US Gun Regulators Reclassified as 'Essential' Amid Industry Pressure and Republican Lobbying, Allowing Resumption of Deadly Firearm Sales.
In a move that has sparked intense debate, the Trump administration has reclassified federal examiners responsible for regulating high-risk firearms as "essential" workers, allowing them to return to work despite the ongoing government shutdown. The decision comes after relentless lobbying by the gun industry and Republican politicians, who argued that the impediment to sales of silencers, pre-1986 machine guns, and short-barreled rifles was a blatant infringement on Americans' second amendment rights.
The move has enabled gun owners to once again purchase these heavily regulated firearms, which have been recognized as posing an outsized risk to public safety since their regulation under the National Firearms Act in 1934. The firearms, commonly known as "gangster weapons," have proliferated in recent years and are now among the bestsellers in the gun market.
Industry groups and members of Congress had vehemently opposed the temporary block on sales, with lobbyists arguing that it was a violation of Americans' constitutional rights. "Your second amendment rights are not suspended because of Congress's inability to pass legislation," said Larry Keane, general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). The NSSF described the shutdown as having effectively shut down companies that sell suppressors.
The Trump administration's decision has been hailed by gun rights organizations, with Gun Owners of America describing it as an "historic win" against what they perceive as ATF tyranny. However, experts and advocacy groups have expressed concern over the implications of this move, highlighting the need for more stringent regulation on high-risk firearms.
Despite the resumption of sales, some critical public services remain paralyzed by the shutdown, including the approval of new medical drugs and processing of small business loans. Federal employees who oversee the US nuclear stockpile are also still furloughed. The administration's decision has raised questions about what constitutes an "essential" activity during a government shutdown and whether it prioritizes gun rights over public safety.
In a move that has sparked intense debate, the Trump administration has reclassified federal examiners responsible for regulating high-risk firearms as "essential" workers, allowing them to return to work despite the ongoing government shutdown. The decision comes after relentless lobbying by the gun industry and Republican politicians, who argued that the impediment to sales of silencers, pre-1986 machine guns, and short-barreled rifles was a blatant infringement on Americans' second amendment rights.
The move has enabled gun owners to once again purchase these heavily regulated firearms, which have been recognized as posing an outsized risk to public safety since their regulation under the National Firearms Act in 1934. The firearms, commonly known as "gangster weapons," have proliferated in recent years and are now among the bestsellers in the gun market.
Industry groups and members of Congress had vehemently opposed the temporary block on sales, with lobbyists arguing that it was a violation of Americans' constitutional rights. "Your second amendment rights are not suspended because of Congress's inability to pass legislation," said Larry Keane, general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). The NSSF described the shutdown as having effectively shut down companies that sell suppressors.
The Trump administration's decision has been hailed by gun rights organizations, with Gun Owners of America describing it as an "historic win" against what they perceive as ATF tyranny. However, experts and advocacy groups have expressed concern over the implications of this move, highlighting the need for more stringent regulation on high-risk firearms.
Despite the resumption of sales, some critical public services remain paralyzed by the shutdown, including the approval of new medical drugs and processing of small business loans. Federal employees who oversee the US nuclear stockpile are also still furloughed. The administration's decision has raised questions about what constitutes an "essential" activity during a government shutdown and whether it prioritizes gun rights over public safety.
, this is insane!!! How can you just decide that people who regulate guns are 'essential' workers just because of industry pressure? 
It's like they're more important than teachers, nurses or police officers... what about public safety?! 
We need stricter gun control laws, not a way to circumvent them! 
And what about the politicians who actually care about people's lives, not just their constituents' guns? 
This is all so frustrating and I don't know how much more of this I can take... 
It seems like the pressure from the gun industry and politicians is just too much to handle, and it's putting people's lives at risk for the sake of some "second amendment rights". I get that everyone has a right to bear arms, but come on, there are rules in place for a reason! Can't we find a way to balance our freedoms with public safety? 
These "gangster weapons" are literally killing people and causing chaos... it's not even about individual rights anymore, it's about the bigger picture. 
. What about all the experts who warned us that these guns were too powerful for society? It's like we're just going to ignore all the science and logic behind gun control and just let people get what they want... no matter how many lives it's gonna cost.
, but at the same time, I think they should've just left things as they were 
. I mean, come on, silencers and pre-1986 machine guns are straight-up deadly 
, and we already know they're a risk to public safety. By reclassifying these examiners, the admin is basically saying that gun sales trumps all other concerns 
. I'm all for 2nd amendment rights, but let's not forget that there are bigger fish to fry here 
. It's time to get real about gun control and make sure these firearms aren't flooding the market 
.
. Think about it, these guys are supposed to be regulating high-risk firearms that can take lives in seconds 
... shouldn't their safety (and the safety of others) be more important? It's like saying, "Hey, we'll let you have a firearm if you promise not to use it for evil"... that doesn't exactly fill me with confidence 
. I mean, what about all the research that's being put on hold due to this shutdown? Medical breakthroughs are crucial to saving lives 
... shouldn't those be prioritized over some bloke's right to buy a silencer? 
. I mean, what's next? Are they gonna make police officers and firefighters non-essential too?! 
That's just unacceptable. Can't we find a way to balance gun rights with public safety without putting lives at risk?! 
.
and btw why are they even calling those "gangster weapons" like it's a bad thing or something 
i mean what's next? reclassifying people who think critically as "non-essential workers"? 
. Can someone explain how this works again? 
.
