NRA Applauds House Vote to Respect Due Process for Gun Owners

Vote was First Step in Reversing Obama's Social Security Administration Gun Grab

Fairfax, Va.— The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) today applauded the passage of H.J. Res. 40, a joint resolution to revoke a final rule made by the Obama administration that would strip law-abiding Americans of their Second Amendment rights.

“The Obama administration’s last minute, back-door gun grab would have stripped law-abiding Americans of their Second Amendment rights without due process,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA-ILA. “Today’s vote was the first step in revoking this unconstitutional action.”

Last year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) finalized a proposed rule to ban certain recipients who use a representative payee from owning firearms. This ill-conceived action stripped some of the most vulnerable Americans of their right to keep and bear arms without due process.

The NRA immediately opposed the Obama administration's efforts when the proposal was first announced in summer of 2015. The NRA has fought every step of the way to ensure that social security recipients are not stripped of their rights without due process of law.

Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress is allowed to dispose of any actions an outgoing administration initiates in its final six months. This rule was implemented during that time frame. Today's House vote (235 – 180) was the first step in reversing Obama’s unconstitutional gun grab.

“We look forward to Senate action and President Trump signing this important legislation into law,” concluded Cox.

The NRA thanks congressmen Sam Johnson (R-TX), Ralph Abraham (R-LA) and Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) for their work on this, as well as Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) for their leadership. Identical legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley earlier this week.

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.