Back firearms law

Arkansas Code 21-1-904: “(a) All acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations of the United States Government that were enacted on or after January 1, 2021, that infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, Section 5, are invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, are specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state. (b) Such a federal ban that is null and void in this state under subsection (a) of this section includes without limitation: (4) Any act forbidding the possession, ownership, use, or transfer of any type of firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition by law-abiding citizens; (1) The following persons shall not enforce or assist federal agencies or officers in the enforcement of any federal statute, executive order, or federal agency directive that conflicts with Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, Section 5, or any Arkansas law: (A) A public officer or employee of this state.”

On Jan. 13, Biden’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms announced its final rule outlawing pistol braces, effectively rendering millions of Americans felons if they don’t comply with this unconstitutional action within 120 days. This because ATF changed its minds about a firearm accessory they’d previously deemed legal.

On Jan. 18, I asked Congressman Steve Womack why he wasn’t co-sponsoring H.R.9033, the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act which would override ATF’s ruling, and whether he didn’t agree that ACA 21-1-904 made it obligatory to do so. The “response” from his email bot two weeks later completely side-stepped the question, instead peddling his concealed handgun carry license and NRA membership as street cred, and assuring me that he “continues to monitor this situation closely,” presumably as consolation for the continued erosion of my God-given rights by the Biden administration.

Congressman, your concealed handgun license and NRA membership doesn’t put you in a particularly exclusive club; what does put you in a very exclusive club is your job, and we the employers expect you to do a minimal amount to represent us. You are one of 535 people who could stop this nonsensical federal overreach. You and your D.C. colleagues have “closely monitored” us into the approaching tyrannical nightmare.

Stop monitoring. Start fighting back. And comply with Arkansas state law. Please.

ROBERT BARTON Kingston