GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) took on the Biden administration this weekend over reports of incoming executive action stripping away Americans’ gun rights.
President Joe Biden is expected this week to crackdown on so-called “ghost guns,” or any homemade firearm that lacks serial numbers.
Screencapping a report on the coming crackdown, Massie ripped Biden for ignoring the Constitution and bypassing Congress.
“The Constitution does not authorize the federal government to prevent you from making your own firearm,” the Republican asserted. “This a fact that has been recognized for 200+ years. Also, Article 1, Section 1 (literally the first operative sentence in the Constitution) says Congress makes law, not POTUS!”
The Constitution does not authorize the federal government to prevent you from making your own firearm. This a fact that has been recognized for 200+ years. Also, Article 1, Section 1 (literally the first operative sentence in the Constitution) says Congress makes law, not POTUS! pic.twitter.com/vTFRvKYTVi
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 11, 2022
When Biden pushed the supposed grave seriousness of “ghost guns” in America last April, The Daily Wire highlighted that serial numbers are already required if these homemade guns are sold or transferred to another person:
Under current law, a person can manufacture a homemade firearm without serial numbers for their personal use. A serial number, however, is required if the firearm is sold or transferred to another person. This is only applicable for hobbyists, not people who are in the business of manufacturing, buying, and/or selling guns. These homemade firearms are regulated under the Gun Control Act of 1968.
Gun expert Stephen Gutowski questioned Biden’s political tact regarding the coming gun control measures.
“I don’t understand the White House strategy here,” he wrote. “They’re going to put up another political guy for ATF director which means it’ll be a big gun-control fight right before the midterms. And they’re rushing the ‘ghost gun’ rule into effect early too.”
“Guns have consistently polled low on Americans’ priority list Biden’s entire presidency and his handling of the issue has been poor as well,” Gutowski noted. “Republicans are now more trusted on the issue than Democrats. And yet the White House is leaning into it anyway.”
“Maybe it will make some of the gun-control groups happy, but these moves seem too in the weeds for most grassroots Dems to get excited about. I’m not sure anyone goes to the polls because the ATF has a permanent director instead of an acting one,” the expert wrote.
“I can’t imagine Senators King, Tester, Sinema, and Manchin are too happy to re-litigate the ATF director fight again, though,” he added. “If the gun industry opposes Steve Dettlebach, and it looks like they will, it’s going to be another uphill battle to get him confirmed. Will Senator King see him as meaningfully different from Chipman?”
Guns have consistently polled low on Americans' priority list Biden's entire presidency and his handling of the issue has been poor as well. Republicans are now more trusted on the issue than Democrats. And yet the White House is leaning into it anyway.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) April 11, 2022
The gun-control groups deserve a lot of credit for pushing Biden to be even more aggressive. They've been openly hostile towards the administration since Chipman's nomination failed & it seems to have paid off. A very different approach than the gun-rights groups had with Trump.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) April 11, 2022
If the gun industry opposes Steve Dettlebach, and it looks like they will, it's going to be another uphill battle to get him confirmed. Will Senator King see him as meaningfully different from Chipman? I'll be covering it over at @TheReloadSite. Sign up: https://t.co/cNu9RFsQzd
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) April 11, 2022
Related: What Is A ‘Ghost Gun’ And How Are They Regulated?
Related: Biden Set To Announce New Crackdown On Gun Rights This Week: Report