Contact:
Alexah Rogge
202-225-6611
alexah.rogge@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Russ Fulcher joined the introduction of the No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your (REGISTRY) Rights Act as an original cosponsor of the bill.
The REGISTRY Act was introduced by Congressman Cloud to combat the Biden Administration’s recently proposed rule to require Federal Firearm Licensees to maintain firearm records in perpetuity, after going out of business, rather than destroying them after 20 years, which is the current law. In addition to fighting against the new rule proposal, this legislation also combats the Biden Administration’s idea to create a federal firearms registry.
“Under the current administration, preserving our constitutional rights and our personal freedoms is more important now than ever before. Thank you to Congressman Cloud for identifying this dangerous new rule and leading the fight to combat it. I am proud to cosponsor the REGISTRY Rights Act to protect the rights of my constituents back home and all Americans.” commented Congressman Fulcher.
As a member of the Second Amendment Caucus, Congressman Fulcher has been a staunch defender of the American right to bear arms and maintain privacy while doing so. This includes sponsorships of H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, and H.R. 1680, the Lawful Interstate Transportation of Firearms Act, which establish a federal statutory framework to regulate the carry and transportation of concealed firearms across state lines.
Background:
Under current law, a Federal Firearm Licensee’s (FFL) that have gone out of business must give all of their firearm transaction records from the past 20 years to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The ATF maintains all of these records in the ??Out-of-Business Records Imaging System (OBRIS) database.
The Biden Administration has proposed a rule that would require FFLs to maintain all firearm transaction records in perpetuity instead of destroying them after 20 years. There are valid concerns this rule will lay the groundwork for a back-door federal firearms registry, which led Congressman Cloud to launch an investigation into ATF’s (OBRIS) database.
Through a series of letters, Congressman Cloud and other Members of Congress uncovered that ATF has acquired nearly a billion firearm transaction records. Should the proposed rule be finalized, this number is only going to grow and could lead to the ATF having information on every American gun owner.
Congressman Cloud’s No REGISTRY Rights Act would require ATF to delete all existing firearm transaction records accumulated by the ATF, therefore dismantling their current database and preventing the possible creation of a federal gun registry.
The bill would also require Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) to destroy their firearm transaction records once they go out of business, ensuring the ATF doesn’t continue to accumulate these records.
Cosponsor List:
Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) ,Thomas Massie (R-KY), Mary Miller (R-IL), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Bob Good (R-VA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Ken Buck (R-CO), Ben Cline (R-VA), Andy Harris (R-MD), Randy Weber (R-TX), Andy Biggs (R-AZ) , Scott Perry (R-PA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Bill Posey (R-FL), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Yvette Herrell (R-NM), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), David B. McKinley (R-WV), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Chip Roy (R-TX) joined as original cosponsors.
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