North Charlotte Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis and 20 of his Republican colleagues have recently introduced the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act, which aims to prevent the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using public health emergencies to impose gun control.

In light of the Governor of New Mexico's recent action to suspend the carrying of firearms under the guise of a public health emergency, concerns have been raised regarding the potential for left-wing politicians to replicate such measures on a national scale. Activist groups have been urging the Biden administration, particularly HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, to utilize executive powers to impose gun control.

According to a report by the Washington Post, the Biden administration plans to establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in response to perceived inaction from Congress on the issue. The new office will include a prominent activist from the Community Justice Action Fund, an organization dedicated to declaring a national gun violence public health emergency.

"The illegal action by the Governor of New Mexico to suspend the 2nd Amendment through a public health emergency should be concerning to every American," said Senator Tillis. "I am deeply concerned that this stunt might be replicated on the national level by a left-wing politician in an effort to enact gun control, and Congress must take action to prevent that from ever happening. I am proud to co-introduce this legislation that would stop that from ever happening so we can protect the Constitutional rights of North Carolinians."

The Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act includes the following provisions:

• Prohibiting the President, or their designee, from declaring an emergency under the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with the intent to impose gun control.
• Preventing the Secretary of Health and Human Services from declaring a public health emergency under the Public Health Service Act for the purpose of imposing gun control.
• Prohibiting any government official from restricting the manufacture, sale, or transfer of firearms or ammunition during a disaster or emergency.

The Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act has garnered the endorsement of the Gun Owners of America.

For more information on the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act, please visit here.

###