WASHINGTON — Alabama congressmen are gearing up for a fight with the Obama administration over the president’s expected executive orders on gun control, which could come as early as this week.
According to Politico, “the changes include requiring an expanded number of small-scale gun sellers to be licensed — and therefore conduct background checks — whenever selling a weapon. This wouldn’t close the so-called gun show loophole, though it has the potential to narrow it.
“The administration is also expected to impose tighter rules for reporting guns that get lost or stolen on their way to a buyer.”
Gun rights advocates say the new executive actions could drastically expand the power of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the agency that would be responsible for the implementation of the regulations. They also note that none of the expected orders would have done anything to stop recent mass shootings, which President Obama has used as his stated reasoning for unilaterally imposing stricter gun control.
In structure, the Presidential orders could be similar to Obama’s executive actions on immigration, which conservatives dubbed “executive amnesty” and insist are an unconstitutional overreach of the executive branch.
Alabama Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL1) released a statement urging his colleagues to be prepared to take “swift” action against any executive branch gun control efforts:
President Obama just doesn’t get it. He continues to openly disregard our Constitution and the will of the American people. For seven years now, Congress has rejected President Obama’s efforts to restrict the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. Now, in the final months of his presidency, he intends to make these changes on his own through executive fiat.
These expected changes would not have prevented any of the recent mass shootings where guns were purchased from licensed gun dealers. Instead of continuing to ignore Congress, the President should work with us on commonsense reforms that would actually reduce gun violence, like mental health reform and preventing those who wish to bring us harm from entering the United States. In reality, I don’t think President Obama wants to solve the problem. Instead, he is simply looking for another political talking point and continuing to pander to far-left political groups.
Congress must be swift to respond to any executive action, and there will certainly be legal challenges as well. This debate is about more than the Second Amendment. This debate is about standing up to an out-of-control President who refuses to follow the Constitution.
Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL3) pledged to join any efforts to push back against the president’s expected orders:
President Obama has spent his time in office expanding the size of government and infringing on our Constitutional rights. This is just another example of his blatant disregard for the Constitution. I remain completely opposed to any action that puts any level of restrictions on our right to bear arms. As a gun owner myself, I will continue to fight for our Second Amendment rights.
Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL4) said the gun control measures will not do anything to curb violence:
It is unbelievable and I’m at a loss of words at the news President Obama plans to sidestep the Constitution once again in order to circumvent Congress in his efforts to diminish gun owner’s rights in America. This is just another example of President Obama’s attempts to impose his failed agenda on the American people in the waning months of his Presidency.
There is not proof that the new restrictions President Obama proposes would have prevented any of the recent cases of gun violence in our country. I’m also confident that these new proposed restrictions on the Second Amendment will not stop any future incidents. As we know our problem in America is not a gun problem. It is a cultural problem and a problem of the heart by these criminals. No new gun laws can change the attitude of someone who is so lost in this world that they are bent on killing others.
Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL2) said Congress should focus its efforts on mental health and terrorism, rather than gun control:
President Obama is wrong to try to bypass Congress to unilaterally mandate his gun control agenda, and it won’t stand. I’m a gun owner myself, and I strongly value the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment. I will fight on behalf of those I represent to stop any attempt to erode the Second Amendment rights of Americans.
There is a reason Congress has repeatedly rejected President Obama’s gun control agenda: on top of being unconstitutional, his proposals would not have prevented the recent attacks he uses to justify new laws. Instead of forcing unconstitutional gun regulations that have little hope of stopping premeditated attacks, I believe our focus should be dealing with the root causes, specifically mental health and terrorism.
Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL6) added that the President’s orders are not the law of the land and can be rescinded by any President that follows him.
The President’s Executive Actions are beyond the scope of his Constitutional powers. This President has developed a pattern over the past seven years of ignoring the Constitution whenever it suits him. This is wrong. Nothing in the President’s Executive Actions would have done anything to stop the most recent incidents of gun violence.
I have always been and will continue to be a strong defender of our Second Amendment rights, and will fight any attempt to infringe upon them. Executive actions are not law and, on January 20, 2017, can be rescinded by the next President.
This story may be updated as more congressmen issue statements.
