The spokesman for the group discusses why they filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court alongside the Gun Owners Foundation.
It appears that President Joe Biden and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF) aren’t backing down when it comes to taking away gun rights from private citizens. But this time, the gun groups are fighting back.
Late last week, the Gun Owners of America, alongside the Gun Owners Foundation, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court surrounding the case of Garland v. VanDerStok. The case surrounds challenging a frame and receiver rule put in place by the ATF, which classifies incomplete and unfinished 80 percent lower receivers, along with build-your-own-firearm kits as “firearms” regulated under the Gun Control Act of 1968.
The GOA notes the following in its brief:
- Under the law, unfinished precursors of firearms cannot simultaneously be firearms themselves;
- ATF exceeded its lawful authority in the promulgation of this rule;
- And that the Biden-Harris Administration’s ultimate goal with this rule is to force everyone to serialize every firearm they own, which is a necessary step for the ATF to build a comprehensive gun registry.
Erich Pratt, who serves as Senior Vice President for the Gun Owners of America, notes, “We are proud to have been involved in the legal fight against this rule from the beginning, and are thrilled that the Supreme Court is hearing the case. The Biden-Harris ATF is waging war on the Second Amendment, and we can’t allow them to win an inch.”
Stephen Willeford, the 2017 “hero with a gun” who serves as spokesman for the Gun Owners of America, joins us now to discuss the matter further. Welcome, Stephen!
Q&A:
- Why is the Biden administration and the ATF so determined to curb the rights of private gun owners in the United States? Are they really that concerned about people potentially being violent?
- For those unfamiliar, tell us more about the frame and receiver rule, and the biggest problem with it.
- They also literally seem to be aiming at build-your-own-firearm kits, explaining that their biggest concern is that they aren’t registered. But do they really stand as that much of a threat?
- You’ve adopted the policy of Concealed-Carry – or Constitutional-Carry, as some call it – as a safe way to fight back against “active shooter” events. Why do you think it’s a safe alternative? And why do you think more states haven’t accepted it?
- 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. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the 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 gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at jerry@specialguests.com.
