Tester introduces legislation to prevent ‘emergency’ gun regulations

Senator’s bipartisan bill would prevent tracking of multiple rifle, shotgun purchases by law-abiding Americans

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today introduced legislation to prevent any new “emergency” gun regulations by the Obama Administration.

Tester’s bipartisan legislation follows his call for the Administration to formally reject a request by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) to use emergency rulemaking authority to track the purchases of multiple rifles and shotguns by law-abiding Americans.  

ATF requested the new rules to help combat violence on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Tester rejected that reasoning, pointing to a need to “enforce the laws already on the books instead of making up new rules.”

“Any discussion dealing with Americans’ basic rights should be debated out in the open—not behind closed doors,” said Tester, Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.  “My bill strengthens gun rights by ensuring that kind of transparency.  And I plan to keep standing in the way of anyone trying to curtail our rights under the guise of reducing crime.”

Tester’s measure would prevent ATF from circumventing Congress by collecting records on thousands of Americans’ gun purchases.  It would also forbid the Department of Justice from using any federal funds to expand reporting requirements on firearms.

A copy of Tester’s bipartisan legislation is available on his website, HERE.  Senator Max Baucus is cosponsoring the legislation.

Tester, an outspoken advocate for gun rights, led the successful effort in Congress urging the Supreme Court to strengthen gun rights for law-abiding Americans in last year’s landmark McDonald v. Chicago decision.