Opinion
New York – -(AmmoLand.com)- One thing that Second Amendment supporters should be aware of is that anti-Second Amendment extremists are not just trying to enact new restrictions on our right to keep and bear arms. Often, they try to take away progress that has already been made in a pro-Second Amendment direction.
One such effort is S 3299, the Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act, introduced by Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Who if you remember the Justice Department brought criminal corruption charges against for allegedly selling his office “to push the business interests of a Democratic donor and friend in exchange for gifts” A companion bill, HR 5917, has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA). Six senators have co-sponsored the legislation in the Senate, while Lee’s version in the House has 27 cosponsors.
The names of the cosponsors on these bills could be seen as “red flags” in and of themselves, including Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The legislation itself is short, and seems very technical, often discussing the deletion of text from sections 18 USC 923 and 18 USC 922. However, the effects are very real for those who exercise their Second Amendment rights. Loyal AmmoLand News readers should not take our word for it. Why not read the press release from Senator Menendez’s office for yourself? You have to admit, Menendez makes his legislation sound reasonable, even as it wrecks the privacy of those who exercise their Second Amendment rights.
Some of the provisions that these legislation targets are known as the Tiahrt Amendments. These amendments were installed to prevent the abuse of the National Instant Check System (NICS) – particularly preventing its use to create a gun registry. Now, many readers are not fans of NICS, but at the present time, repeal is not doable immediately. The Tiahrt Amendments make abuse of NICS much less likely.
The Tiahrt Amendments also prevent the abuse of gun trace data. This data was often released for anti-Second Amendment propaganda under the guide of “research.” A 2013 NRA release outlines other reasons to keep this data confidential, including the fact that the data contains the private names of retail buyers and the dealers who sold the gun.
In 2018, New Jersey released BATFE gun trace data, as part of an effort to circumvent those protections. It also noted that 77 percent of guns traced came from out of state. Note, there is proposed legislation intended to address the illegal trafficking of firearms, including via straw purchasers. Current laws also can address firearms trafficking and put people away for a long time, as a 1999 article by the NRA notes.
The Menendez legislation also pushes to requite federally-licensed firearms dealers to submit their inventories to the government. Again, most dealers already do have inventories, but why would the government need to have them? The only logical answer is again, to facilitate universal gun registration.
Given the importance of the Tiahrt Amendments in protecting the privacy of those who exercise their Second Amendment rights in this current political and social environment, Second Amendment supporters need to act. They should contact their Representative and Senators and politely but firmly urge them to oppose S 3299 and HR 5917.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.
This clown is upholding the NJ tradition of sending the biggest crooks and morons to congress. To bad he did not join epstein in jail.
What’s this ????
No hate on harold???
@Link, Couldn’t get past the photos.
Crazy Bob is back to his old dirty tricks again in the Congress.
Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Wasn’t he a frequent flyer on Epstin’s plane. What a dirtbag. Of course, he is in “good” company with Kamala Harris, Gabby Hays Gifford, etc. Hopefully, Commie Bernie gets the demorat nod and takes down the House and a few Senate seats when DJT smokes him like a cheap cigar in November. I think AG Barr should look into Mendacious Menendez for criminal conduct with his involvement with Epstin, Clinton, et. al.
What’s that old saying…”If you have to ask to can’t afford her.”
@Will, probably by the vote.
The stupid people of NJ reelected this idiot.
Menendez is probably the biggest dirtbag in all of Congress, and that’s saying a lot.
Eff the tyrant with bimbo eruptions who isn’t fit to be in office any office.
This guy should be in prison, or at least on parole AND on the sex offender registry, in case anyone’s forgotten that he’s molested kids. These tyrants mistakenly believe that gun owners are harmless when in fact we’ve actually been peaceful. And their conflation of the two will abruptly end the day We The People have had enough and go on the literal offensive. Our forbearance does have limits.
@WF, “These tyrants mistakenly believe that gun owners are harmless when in fact we’ve actually been peaceful.”
“Beware the dog that does not bark!”
Damn if he isn’t doesn’t remind me of Rev. Jim Baker. Anyone still remember him, as husband to tarantula-eyed, Tammy Faye baker? in 1986 he was caught red-handed doing cocaine with a hooker in a seedy motel room, all-the-while preaching morality to his congregation. He’s due for his first parole in 2034. Perhaps Menendez should join him for the rest of his stay?
Perhaps you should do a better job in researching the subject matter: “He’s due for his first parole in 2034.” LOL!
RoyD. Like I said earlier Jim Bakker has been out of prison for years. BTW he was in federal prison. The feds have not had parole for any offense committed on or after November 1, 1987.
I, unlike most here I dare say, have sat through a number of “guest” appearances of both of these people at the “mega church” I attended back in the day. I and my wife knew they were fakes and hucksters. And we took exception to them being invited to our church. But, they were big names in the day and had huge tv audiences. Add to them a person by the name of Benny Hinn, another huckster of some renown. Just one of a number of reasons we quit going there and wandered in the wilderness for a couple of… Read more »
I never watch TV Evangelists, Not one of them is an honest person.
preacher man sittin on t.v. in a suit and a tie and a vest,
tells you to send your money to the lord,
but they give you their address.
Good “ol” Hank Jr.
2034? Where have you been living? Bakker (two Ks) was paroled in 1994. He even has his own TV show again. Wanna be in the live audience? Get your tickets here –
@Oldvet It’s more than a boycott. Boycotts are not a problem. “Cancel Culture” refers to the practice of trying to erase a “non-desirable” from historical existence, making it so they are unable to work, speak, or perform any function of daily living. It is a practice that the Soviet union used to perform with exacto knives cutting names out of paper documents. The problem here is that Moe has shown himself to be a troll, and is trying to redefine “Cancel Culture” as anyone who has out argued any opinion he wants to see regarded as the truth. He refuses… Read more »
@Oldvet
Yes, it is an attempt to erase. Thus why it is called “Cancel”.
I’m not that old myself. Haven’t even hit mid thirties yet. Age does not define intelligence nor wisdom, and there are some who would use a claim of such as a shield for bad arguments. What matters in the end is the evidence and facts presented, understanding historical context, and having the integrity to uphold the truth not just when it benefits you but more importantly when it doesn’t.
George Orwell, a few generations ago, warned about leftist “cancel culture”. He referred to it as the State classifying an undesirable (“deplorable”) as an ‘UN-PERSON’. Not merely the removal of someone from all official records past, present & future, but all members of society depriving that individual of their identity and place in society. No banking, buying or selling. No work, no home, no food, and no social contact with anyone on the street. As you had put it, Rev, no function of daily living. This is what the Left wants for the rest of us absent a ‘purge’ where… Read more »
@Will Flatt Yes, you understand it perfectly on the historical context. The reason behind it is the only thing that is being left unsaid, and that is comply or die. It is the same action that has been taking place for thousands and thousands of years. Remember the Angels who visited Lott and the townsmen came to demand they be handed over so they could be made to participate in the local custom? It happened again later too in Judges chapter 19. The action is always the same, and it is always justified by those who violate the rights of… Read more »
Will, Orwell also wrote about “Newspeak” where the state has control of the language. Much like the progressives have now. Examples: Chairwoman, #METOO, Gay (which used to mean happy) What is scary is all facts are verified via the internet with sites such as Google which is controlled and censored by progressives. They can re-write “facts” and history with a few keystrokes.
@JB – I mentioned ‘Newspeak’ in another thread here on Ammoland, and how leftists use language-shifting to seize control of narratives and steer the debate. For example, how dare you not mention “genderfluid”, you’re so “regressive”!
When I was younger, gender-fluid was what you got from messing around with the, uh, other sex. Now? perverted. They pervert the language, they pervert human relations, they pervert the law, they pervert the Constitution, they pervert the country, ad infinitum!!
As for search engines, and online encyclopedias, THERE ARE FREE-SPEECH, CONSERVATIVE ALTERNATIVES. Here’s just a few:
@JohnBored – Don’t forget “gun violence.” Have met too many people who do not even recognize that their are two words there. To them owning a firearm of any sort is an act of violence – and they do not seem to recognize that violence can occur without a firearm. Apparently beating someone to death with your “no guns” sign on a stick is not violence. Maybe you cannot fix stupid – we can try to slow social collapse.
Having read so many of your comments, I must admit that I greatly respect your ability to formulate argument, debate, and sway opinion. Combined with your occasional closing in Latin, I wonder, are you a lawyer ? I think you have made it pretty clear that you hold very little or no respect for me, but now I wonder, do you consider me a troll too? Would you rather that I stop posting here ? I would like everyone’s opinion on this too. Everyone that wants me to stop posting on this site ,please say so. Not ignoring the issue… Read more »
@Considerthis No, I am not a lawyer(Don’t have a mother-may-I slip for it), although I have studied law as well as psychology and many other subjects. I actually started debating with lawyers when I was in high school. The best piece of advice I can give to you is spend everyday learning as much as you can about things that are devoid of your own opinion, question everything, and seek out what the evidence proves the truth to be instead of what you want it to be. Honestly, NO, I do not consider you a troll like others such as… Read more »
Thank you for the thoughtful response and the badly needed advice to get me pointed on the correct path.
I notice several gun news stories on George Zimmerman having lawsuits against Liz Warren and “Mayor Pete” claiming they defamed him with tweets.
Have you ever considered that things that you have posted might be construed as libel and slander ?
Do you think in a court of law that the telling of a half truth would be looked upon as the truth, or a lie ?
@Considerthis Allow me to answer your questions one at a time. “Have you ever considered that things that you have posted might be construed as libel and slander ?” The constitutional standard has always been that anything that is said that can be proven true through the establishment of evidence does not qualify as Slander or Libel for a defamation case. Slander and Libel deal specifically on the basis of the malicious use of false information to, or the inadvertent cause of, harm or measurable damage to another individual. To answer your question, no I am not worried because I… Read more »
@Considerthis Part two…. “Do you think in a court of law that the telling of a half truth would be looked upon as the truth, or a lie ? This question requires context to answer. First, if the issue that a half truth, told fully knowing the exclusion of exculpatory evidence would be considered a lie, the answer is yes if a witness on stand testifies knowingly that there is no other belief other than the defendant is guilty. In the case of a witness, this would result in a perjury charge if evidence comes to light showing it to… Read more »
The current focus of the cancel culture is now Komrade Kris Matthews on Fox.
You do know that Chris Matthews is on MSNBC right?
Gack no. 🙁
I actually don’t watch very much TV at all. I stand corrected. Mistook him for another squishy fellow Chris Wallace who is on Fox News Sunday which I catch on the radio.
@Ansel Hazen
I wondered what might be going on there, thanks for the Clarification.
I also do not watch much TV myself(Don’t even get service at my house, by choice), but I always remember Chris Matthews because he was mister “Tingle up my leg” everytime he talked about Barrack Obama.
moe. He was released via good conduct time in1994. He was not paroled. See above post.
Jim Bakker has been out for several years. He has some cable gig. Raking in the pennies from mentally challenged people.
Swaggart is a cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis, the singer who married his 13-year old cousin. Great Balls of Fire!
Menendez got in trouble for taking a rich doctor’s jet to Pedo Island.
Odd how that gets so quickly forgotten when it is a democrat rat.
If my memory serves correctly those females are a bit “old” for Menendez’s preferred taste.
Bingo. He was a very frequent visitor to Epstein’s Pedo Island.
Yeah, by about 20 years.
Babes?, how about HOOKERS.Fit’s right in with Bloomberg.