A spokesman for the group explains why the legal action against the chief is completely unfair.
The Gun Owners of America, alongside a number of other groups, recently filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, in defense of former Iowa Police Chief Bradley Wendt.
This comes after Wendt was unfairly targeted by the Biden-Harris DOJ, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for acquiring machine guns for his police department. Keep in mind that this is permitted under federal law.
Both the ATF and DOJ are working hand in hand to crack down on local government officials attempting to acquire machine guns. This includes a number of police chiefs and rural sheriffs, including Wendt.
Earlier this year, Wendt was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for allegedly making false statements and fraud in connection with said machine guns. His case is currently in appeal, hence why the Gun Owners of America and other groups are looking to act.
“In our brief, the coalition argues that federal law expressly prohibits the federal government from interfering in a local police department’s authority to acquire, possess, and issue machine guns to officers. Additionally, our brief argues that the alleged false statements made by Chief Wendt could not be considered by ATF under their own regulation, meaning they were not material and should never have been presented to the jury,” the group noted.
Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of the GOA, noted, “The Biden-Harris Administration has been weaponizing the DOJ against anyone and everyone who opposes its policy agenda. Make no mistake, under a President Harris, this sort of malicious prosecution will continue, and it’s imperative that we dissuade the DOJ and make clear Americans will fight back at the polls and in the courts.”
Sam Parades is available to speak on this subject, serving as Executive Director of the Gun Owners of America.
Stephen Willeford, the 2017 “hero with a gun” who serves as the spokesman for the Gun Owners of America, is also available.
Q&A:
- What gives the ATF and DOJ the right to prosecute local sheriffs and police chiefs for a measure that’s permitted by federal law?
- Are the Biden-Harris administration really that desperate to keep machine guns out of the hands of trained professionals?
- How could the court have found Chief Wendt guilty in the first place? False statements? Or something else?
- What are you hoping will be the outcome with this amicus brief and the appeal?
- You’ve often noted how Constitutional-Carry (or Concealed-Carry as some call it) can actually make streets safer during times of crisis. Explain this further.
- FOR STEPHEN: 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.
- FOR STEPHEN: 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 Sam Paredes…
Sam Paredes has been with Gun Owners of California for over 35 years, currently serving as Executive Director, a position he has held since 1998. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Gun Owners of America and Treasurer of Gun Owners Foundation.
GOC is a non-profit lobbying organization formed to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights in California. Paredes is a registered lobbyist, has testified in hundreds of legislative committee hearings and has advocated on behalf of the gun community before the California Fish and Game Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Justice.
Paredes has been interviewed by virtually every California news outlet as well as national and international media such as Fox News, ABC World News Tonight, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, the Larry Elder Show, Al Jazeera and the BBC (Britain and Australia) as an expert on gun laws in the Golden State. He is a frequent speaker before conservative groups and has given workshops on “Confrontational Politics” in Missouri, Nevada and throughout California and has served as co-host of Sacramento’s “Just Guns” radio show on Money 105.5 FM.
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.
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