Americans have witnessed rapid weaponization of government during Joe Biden’s tenure in office.
Joe Biden’s ATF tried to cross a dangerous line.
But the ATF just got a fresh new headache from Ken Paxton over this infuriating power grab.
Ken Paxton took a stand against problem-plagued ATF
When drafting the Constitution, the founding fathers carefully established three coequal branches of government, each wielding checks and balances on the other branches.
In today’s world, the executive branch wields enormous power in the form of bureaucracies, which have shocking authority over Americans.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for example has remarkable authority over public policy, despite having no accountability to voters.
And the ATF is hardly concerned with respecting Americans’ Constitutional rights.
In April, the ATF issued a new “engaged in business” rule that treats every gun owner engaged in a private transfer of a firearm like a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Selling a gun to a friend or handing down a family hunting rifle from father to son would require them to run the name of the person receiving the firearm through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
The line between a private citizen and a firearms dealer is completely eliminated.
This is effectively the ATF implementing backdoor universal background check legislation, which is ultimately the first step to outright gun confiscation.
What’s more, such policies require citizens to prove they’re innocent to federal law enforcement in order to exercise their constitutional rights.
That’s why a coalition of 26 state Attorneys General from across America quickly moved to sue the ATF over the rule, saying that it violates the Second Amendment.
In turn, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued an injunction on the order, calling it “highly problematic.”
According to Judge Kacsmaryk, the rule not only infringes on the Second Amendment, but it also requires the firearm seller to prove his innocence, rather than Government prosecutors having the burden of proof.
Kacsmaryk’s injunction was set to expire on June 2 but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested an extension.
The court granted Paxton’s request, extending the injunction through June 16.
“We will not let Biden continue his tyrannical abuse of power,” Paxton said upon filing the lawsuit.
“His war on our Second Amendment rights must be stopped,” Paxton added.
Anyone with commonsense knows criminals don’t obey gun laws.
Nevertheless, Joe Biden defended the ATF’s move, saying in April, “This is going to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and felons.”
“And my administration is going to continue to do everything we possibly can to . . . pass universal background checks legislation now,” the 81-year-old President added.
The existence of the ATF is a slap in the face to Americans’ rights
Nothing in the Constitution permits even Congress to make gun laws, let alone organizations like the ATF; the Second Amendment is clear.
Yet, every day, executive branch agencies like the ATF have been allowed to wield this immense power over the American public despite the overwhelming evidence that they do not prevent criminals from being armed – only law-abiding citizens.
Keep Fully Loaded Magazine in your sights to stay on top of exactly what the Gun Control Lobby is plotting, how guns actually make Americans safer, and fun stories surrounding the regular exercise of your Second Amendment freedoms.