Representative Dan Crenshaw(R-TX) has run a very pro-2A campaign in the past but many still doubt him over past comments about Red Flag laws, now he has introduced new legislation that aims to keep the ATF accountable.
H.R. 1961 or the ATF Accountability Act of 2021 is designed to give members of the firearms industry proper appeals when it comes to rule changes and decisions made by the ATF.
Currently the ATF is an unchecked bureaucracy and while they do have an open comment period for voters and activists to speak out against the new rules they push they are rarely swayed by such comments. This new bill gives highly knowledgeable gun manufacturers a chance to appeal certain rules. Previously the comment period served as a warm-up stage for gun manufacturers’ and activist groups to prepare lawsuits, if Crenshaw’s legislation were to pass the manufacturers would be able to circumvent this process and have an appeal with the ATF directly.
From Crenshaw’s press release:
“Late last year we saw the ATF attempt to make a rule that would have cost the industry more than $1.25 billion. The fact an unelected bureaucrat could make a rule hurting the American economy and American jobs to that extent with no appeals process cannot continue.” said Crenshaw. “This bill will bring ATF in line with most other federal regulatory agencies and create an appeals process so industry has more options to challenge rulings other than suing the federal government – which many businesses simply cannot do. This bill will help ensure that the ATF cannot unilaterally impose rulings that impede on Second Amendment liberties and hurt jobs within the firearms industry. ”
So far the legislation has failed to garner any major support but there is one Democrat legislator who is supporting the measure. Crenshaw’s failure to get broad support for this measure can be directly attributed to his past comments about Red Flag Laws.
