Ohio lawmakers are proposing a bill that would protect the citizens’ Second Amendment rights, which aims to prevent law enforcement officers and prosecutors from attempting to impose several measures, infringing the citizens’ rights to bear arms.
According to the reports, Ohio lawmaker’s House Bill 51 would prevent passing of federal acts, laws, executive orders, administrative orders, rules, or regulations that would potentially infringe on the right to keep and bear arms.
In a statement released by Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt of Loveland, she claimed that the legislation aims to preserve Ohio residents’ constitutional rights.
Schmidt also referred to the recent move by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), concerning pistol braces, arguing that “the ATF’s recent attempt to classify legal handguns as illegal short-barrel rifles was a clear overreach of the federal government,” the lawmaker added.
The ATF’s pistol brace rule means law-abiding Americans are going to become felons because unelected executive branch bureaucrats are making “law” for a president who hates guns. We need to restore lawmaking authority to the legislative branch as our Founders intended. pic.twitter.com/phMj6ruVD9— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 13, 2023
Moreover, Rep. Thomas Massie also released a statement, claiming that “The ATF’s pistol brace rule means law-abiding Americans are going to become felons because unelected executive branch bureaucrats are making “law” for a president who hates guns. We need to restore lawmaking authority to the legislative branch as our Founders intended.”
In an exclusive report published by Informing America, the media outlet explained that the legislation will also “block local governments from hiring a person who is or was employed or deputized by the U.S. government and is attempting to enforce federal infringements on the Second Amendment.”
Following the declaration of the said bill, it sparked criticisms among the Democratic Party. However, GOP Rep. Mike Loychik of Cortland, a sponsor of HB 51 explained that the proposal is backed by the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“Ohio law enforcement agencies cannot be compelled to enforce unconstitutional federal gun control laws, executive orders, or agency rule interpretations.” Loychik asserted.
The representative also claimed that the bill would separate federal and state-enforced firearms laws and made it clear that HB 51 does not challenge the Supremacy Clause which provides that a federal law normally trumps state law but rather “simply states that the state of Ohio will not help the federal government agencies enforce their gun control agenda.” Loychik continued.
