The Obama administration has whiffed on every proposed gun control measure they’ve presented so far at the federal level, and it’s starting to show. In an attempt to be seen as “doing something about gun violence,” the ATF is being pressured to enact new restrictions on some of the most law abiding citizens in the US…and make their announcement coincide with the anniversary of the Newtown shooting. In particular, the ATF is about to close down the public comment period for a proposed rule that would allow local sheriffs (or the equivalent “chief law enforcement officer” in an area) to enact a de facto ban on NFA items in their jurisdictions regardless of state and local laws. Don’t like that? You can still submit your comment at this website here, along with the over 7,000 other comments that have been submitted so far (more than have registered for Obamacare, perhaps?) . . .
There’s little doubt that this regulation will be railroaded through and approved without the regulators even stopping to look at the comments. Especially given the Obama administration’s other gun control failures, and the coincidental timing of the end of the comment period (the Monday before the Newtown anniversary? Really? Could they have made it any more obvious?).
There’s always the hope that the regulators will see the kind of fury that their proposal is stirring up. This regulation could have passed relatively quietly a few short years ago, but with the rising popularity of NFA devices and silencers in particular, the proposed change now impacts more people than ever.
I fully expect this proposal to be made into ATF policy. I also fully expect Obama to ostentatiously trumpet the fact that he made it more difficult for Americans to get their hands on “dangerous firearms” at whatever bloody shirt waiving festival he attends — despite the fact that I can count the number of crimes committed with legally registered NFA firearms in the last decade on one hand. Literally.
It’s political theater, and we the people end up getting screwed over. The only positive thing that might come of this is a re-vamping of the entire NFA process if enough people complain to their lawmakers.
Nevertheless, I’ve made my comment. Have you?