Please join the New Mexico Conservative Activist Network’s (NMCAN) effort to oppose H.R. 3999, which would “amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the manufacture, possession, or transfer of any part or combination of parts that is designed and functions to increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle but does not convert the semiautomatic rifle into a machinegun, and for other purposes.” [1] The resolution is written with intentionally vague language [2] so as to open the door to banning and/or confiscating anything related to semi-automatic firearms, e.g., detachable magazines. [3] H.R. 3999 provides for retroactive penalties and has no grandfather clause. [2]
According to the Reason Foundation, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, is concerned about “how the ban might affect the legal status of rubber bands, metal bars, or pieces of wood (depending on the owner’s intent),” adding that “Massie worries that the bill could prohibit products that may have nothing to do with the mass shooting in Las Vegas but are arguably covered by the ban.” Reason concludes that “Massie is also troubled by the retroactive criminalization of devices that people already own. ‘Are the manufacturers going to be compelled by the government to turn over lists of customers who legally acquired [products] that were declared by the regulatory authority to be legal?’ he wonders. ‘This could set the precedent for a gun grab if you’re retroactively banning these things.'” [2]
There are two ways in which you can take immediate action to oppose H.R. 3999:
1) Sign the White House-hosted petition “Do not pass H.R.3999” at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/do-not-pass-hr3999. The petition needs about 47,000 signatures by November 11, 2017 to get a response from the White House. While the petition is not the most gracefully worded, it had reached approximately 46,000 signatures when NMCAN found it. Now it is nearing 53,000. A petition to the White House that reaches 100,000 signatures is guaranteed to be reviewed by Oval Office staff, and hopefully would lead to a veto by the pro-Second Amendment President Trump. Such a large petition would also show widespread opposition to H.R. 3999 and create anxiety among pro-gun control senators and representatives regarding their reelection prospects.
2) Write directly to your senators and representative stating your opposition to H.R. 3999. Several organizations that support the Second Amendment have dedicated web forms for contacting your federal representatives. The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) has one such form at https://www.firearmspolicy.org/hr_3999_republican_semi_auto_ban. The Gun Owners of America (GOA) have https://cqrcengage.com/gunowners/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=405633. You can do it yourself by finding your senators at https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/senators_cfm.cfm and finding your House representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find/.
Please help oppose H.R.3999 by taking action and by urging others to do the same. Please feel free to distribute the information contained in this release. Thank you.
ENDNOTES
[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3999
[2] https://reason.com/blog/2017/10/11/bump-stock-ban-criminalizes-possession-o
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About NMCAN: The New Mexico Conservative Activist Network (NMCAN) exists to provide a place where New Mexico conservatives can come together and discuss, develop strategy, and above all, ACT to promote and restore conservative values in our local, state, and national communities.
Contact: Andrew L. Jaffee, Founder
New Mexico Conservatives for Freedom (NMCAN)
Tel. 505-227-4005
Email: ajaffee@microit.us