Gun Owners of America spokesman Stephen Willeford explains why pot users should have just as much of a right to guns as other citizens.
Once again, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are dictating who and who shouldn’t have guns in their possession.
The group recently signed a bill into law called The Federal Gun Control Act of 1968. With it, anyone who is an unlawful user of any controlled substance – including marijuana – will be unable to possess a firearm. In fact, the exact term prevents them from “shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition.” This is in spite of the fact that a recreational cannabis bill was recently signed into law in the state.
“Until marijuana is legalized federally, firearms owners and possessors should be mindful that it remains federally illegal to mix marijuana with firearms and ammunition,” ATF’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Reed, of the St. Paul Field Division, explained in a statement. “As regulators of the firearms industry and enforcers of firearms laws, we felt it was important to remind Minnesotans of this distinction as the marijuana laws adjust here in the State of Minnesota.”
Considering that cannabis is considered a recreational drug and not, in fact, a “rage inducer” like other substances, this makes little sense in the eyes of both gun groups and gun owners. Worse yet, it violates the Second Amendment rights of these users, especially with recreational cannabis use signed into law.
Joining us now to discuss this matter further is Stephen Willeford, the spokesman for Gun Owners of America. You may recall in 2017 how he stopped the Sutherland Springs, Texas mass shooting, acting as the “good guy with a gun.” His expertise is welcome in this matter.
Q&A:
- What do you think about the ATF’s actions to keep firearms out of the hands of recreational users of marijuana and other similar substances?
- Was there any reported incident that you can think of in which a person on marijuana engaged in any sort of criminal or violent activity? There don’t appear to be that many.
- This isn’t the first time that the ATF has turned a cold shoulder to the Second Amendment, as they’ve tried to block gun rights before – particularly to the ownership of gun braces. Do you think their actions are getting out of hand? Could Biden’s devotion to banning “assault weapons” be part of that drive?
- Some may argue that using marijuana could impair judgment when it comes to using a firearm? What counter-argument would you have for someone that notes this?
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation in the city. Tell us more about it, as well as where you can read it.
You can find the book here on Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle format.
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
My official website is http://www.stephenwilleford.com. You can read more about Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all 2nd Amendment issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. You can read more about him at http://www.stephenwilleford.com.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
