Congressional Republicans are proposing a bill amendment to eliminate a requirement that people purchasing guns must reveal their race.
According to The Hill, the amendment, authored by Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.), would strip the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives of their ability to ask applicants their race and ethnicity when purchasing a gun.
“The government should be colorblind on all our rights whether it’s the freedom of speech, freedom of religion or the right to keep and bear arms,” said Black.
“[The ATF’s disclosure policy is a] direct challenge to the Second Amendment rights enshrined in our Constitution,” she continued in her speech on the House floor. “We all want to see weapons kept out of the hands of criminals, but an individual’s race and ethnicity has nothing to do with their ability to safely own and operate a firearm.”
The amendment passed by a voice vote and will be included in the final funding bill, which the House is expected to vote on next Wednesday, The Hill noted.
