House Republicans are using the power of the purse to halt President Obama’s new expansion of firearm regulations.
New legislation to fund the Justice Department, which passed the House this week by 242 to 183, contains language preventing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from restricting certain weapons.
The Hill reports that the new legislation prohibits the ATF from banning certain types of armor-piercing ammunition, blocking imports of military-style shotguns, and forbids federal agents from creating a gun registry.
All federal dollars allocated for the Department of Justice, which oversees the ATF, can’t be used for the purposes gun control.
The provisions key authors were Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).
Democrats, including Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), have slammed the bill saying it will be held up in the Senate because of these provisions and prevent any funding to go to the Justice Department.
“Once again, the Republicans are governing dangerously by offering a poison pill amendment that jeopardizes the safety of our law enforcement and first responders. Congress should be passing common-sense gun safety laws to save lives and keep our men and women in uniform safe — not caving to the reckless demands of the gun lobby,” Israel said.
The legislation also contains language by Rep. Diane Black forbidding the ATF from asking gun purchasers their racial identity and includes a “Fast and Furious” provision prohibiting federal agents from giving firearms to Mexican drug cartels as part of sting operations.
