By Beth Baumann, Alien Gear Holsters
In wake of the recent Orlando shooting, our nation is once again reevaluating our stance on guns and the Second Amendment. Because of the recent terrorist attacks in Orlando, Florida and San Bernardino, California, the Department of Homeland Security is now getting in the business of gun control.
“…I do believe, however, that meaningful, responsible gun control is now part and parcel of homeland security,” said Jeh Johnson, Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, during an interview with CBS.
Johnson made sure to emphasize that recent terrorists are American-born, a justification for his push to regulate guns. Isn’t it far-fetched that the agency that was created to combat terrorism post 9/11 now wants to regulate rights that Americans have under the Constitution? It’s a bit ridiculous if you ask me.
There are multiple problems with Johnson’s desire for gun control:
Constitutional Power
The power to create legislation is left solely to Congress, not an agency or department head. Yes, these departments exist to enforce existing law, but it is outside of their scope of work to create brand new legislation, in this case, limiting who can and cannot purchase a gun.
The nature of gun laws, in themselves, are messy. While anyone purchasing a gun from a gun store must undergo a federal background check, other areas of gun legislation, like concealed carry permits, are left to the states to regulate.
Even if it was legal for a government agency to create legislation through regulation, that would be the job of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which falls under the Department of Justice.
Punishing the Law-Abiders
Instead of keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists, gun control does nothing other than punish those who obey the law. If someone is a legal gun owner and they have gone through the proper channels to obtain a firearm – including a federal background check – they are clearly responsible adults who follow the law. And yes, there are a few loons who fall through the cracks, as evidenced with the Sunday mass shooting in Orlando.
Making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain firearms makes it even easier for terrorists to carry out their attacks. Gun control would create an even bigger “gun-free” zone (look how well those are working out for places like Chicago and Washington, D.C.). One giant “gun-free” zone means no good guy with a gun will be there to save the day when something horrendous, like Orlando or San Bernardino, takes place.
Removing legal firearms from the hands of responsible gun owning Americans sets the stage for an even more dangerous America.
Beth Baumann is outreach specialist for Alien Gear Holsters, a concealed carry holsters company. She is also a contributor to PolitiChicks and TheBlaze.