As I explained in a previous blog post (read here) the President has absolutely no authority to write and pass his own laws. Earlier this year Donald Trump wrote an executive order demanding the ATF ban bump-stocks. But like the President, federal agencies have no Constitutional authority to make their own laws; only enforce them. All legislative power is granted to the Congress of the United States.
I already explained all this, but the ATF has recently gone through with their ban, in obedience to Donald Trump and the NRA’s verbal approval. While this is downright unconstitutional in its own way (and directly mimics tactics Republicans were appalled to find Barack Obama using), this is far worse than a ban on sales. Every bump-stock owner is made a criminal if they refuse to turn in their stocks. Donald Trump did what two years ago would have caused a civil war, confiscation. Not through Congress, the States, or even an abuse of the Supreme Court. With nothing but a pen, Trump has made criminals out of innocent Americans for keeping firearm accessories they legally purchased. If you’re tired of selective outrage, well this is something to be outraged about. The NRA refuses to stand up for the 2nd Amendment, and their candidate has done nothing to ensure its protection. Love or hate these policies, the GOP promised a pro-life Supreme Court Justice, who turned out to defend Planned Parenthood. They promised a border wall, which they won’t fund. They promised to defend our right to bear arms, but only continue to compromise our rights. They promised a return to law while ruling exactly like the Democrats they opposed.
We can’t keep choosing for the lesser of two evils and creating excuse after excuse for it. Donald Trump had done good and bad, as many refer to as “Good Trump” and “Bad Trump.” I agree, but this is not how our nation was expected to be run. When it comes to the permanent affects of politics, it is better to have no good at all than to let a little bit of bad through. The mistakes, and lack of concern for a left-wing retaliation during this administration, has me very concerned. As Gun Owners of America points out, with one signature anything can be reclassified as a machine gun and confiscated from the public. Heck, even Ted Cruz unknowingly called the AR 15 a machine gun. If this ban is enforced any president can ban whatever they want with a pen and a piece of paper.
Currently Gun Owners of America is filing a lawsuit against the ATF and DOJ. If you want to help defeat this overreach of executive power please donate to the Gun Owners Foundation Legal Defense Fund here: https://www.gunowners.com/contribute?src=bumpstocklink
Godspeed and Semper Fidelis