Nashville Standard

WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty and a group of his colleagues have taken a stand against the Biden administration's rule that restricts Americans' Second Amendment rights. Senator Hagerty announced his plan to file a Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval to block the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security interim final rule that prohibits Americans from exercising their Second Amendment Rights.

“This rule is another Operation Choke Point—a politically motivated effort that significantly harms Tennessee manufacturers—and will consequently destroy U.S. jobs and small businesses that support the firearm and ammunition industry,” said Senator Hagerty.

Senator Marsha Blackburn also criticized the rule, stating, “By targeting the manufacturing base of a constitutionally protected industry with regulatory burdens that will decimate small manufacturers and their employees, the Biden administration is using national security as a veil to cover up its anti-gun agenda.”

Senator Shelley Moore Capito expressed her concerns, saying, “President Biden’s pause on export licenses is actively harming America’s firearm and ammunition industry, and is an attempt at implementing gun control by sidestepping Congress.”

Senator Tom Cotton added, “The Commerce Department’s rule will only hurt small businesses and law-abiding Arkansans. It’s just another example of the Biden administration’s efforts to restrict the Second Amendment.”

Senator Mike Crapo voiced his opposition, stating, “The Biden Administration continues to seek underhanded methods of advancing its anti-gun agenda. This over-regulation unnecessarily harms American businesses and the employees they support.”

Senator Steve Daines emphasized the negative impact of the rule, saying, “Coming after gun manufacturers and exporters will kill American jobs, hurt small businesses and diminish our Second Amendment rights. This rule must be reversed.”

Senator Cynthia Lummis highlighted the rights of Wyoming firearm and ammunition manufacturers, stating, “This politically motivated export restriction is wrong, and I am proud to join Senator Hagerty in protecting the Second Amendment and overturning this disastrous rule.”

Senator Jim Risch also criticized the Biden administration’s approach, saying, “The Biden administration will use every method available to restrict Americans’ ability to lawfully purchase or sell firearms. This export pause will hurt American manufacturers and employers, and it is just another attempt to illegally penalize an industry the left does not support.”

The Resolution of Disapproval, co-sponsored by several other Senators, aims to overturn the rule that severely restricts American firearm, ammunition, and related-component manufacturers' ability to obtain export licenses, impacting approximately 2,000 active licenses. Members of the public who wish to comment on this rule have been encouraged to do so.