Using the CRA, the House voted to kill an Obama regulation that would keep some older people on social security from defending themselves with guns:
THE HILL – The House on Thursday struck down an Obama-era regulation that could block some recipients of disability benefits from buying guns.
The House voted 235-180 to roll back a rule that required the Social Security Administration to report people who receive disability benefits and have a mental health condition to the FBI’s background check system. The database is used to determine eligibility for buying a firearm.
Critics said the rule stripped Second Amendment rights from people who are not dangerously mentally ill, such as those who have eating disorders or mental disorders that prevent them from managing their own finances.
The National Rifle Association opposed the rule. While the group says it supports keeping guns away from the mentally ill, it said the determination about who is mentally ill should be left to the courts.
“The Obama administration’s last minute, back-door gun grab would have stripped law-abiding Americans of their Second Amendment rights without due process,” said Chris Cox, the NRA’s top lobbyist.
House Republicans turned to the Congressional Review Act to overturn the regulation. The law allows lawmakers to roll back rules they disapprove of. Critically for Republicans, the resolutions cannot be filibustered in the Senate.
The Senate must approve each of these measures with a simple majority before they are sent to President Trump to sign.
Here’s the statement from two committee chairmen after the vote:
“Today we put a stop to one of the Obama Administration’s many attempts to legislate through regulation,” said Chairman Brady. “The Social Security Administration not only overstepped its mission with this regulation, it discriminated against certain Americans with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits. The agency should be focused on serving all of its beneficiaries, not picking and choosing whose 2nd Amendment rights to deny. Thank you to Chairman Johnson and Congressman Abraham for leading the House effort to reverse this harmful regulatory overreach and protect the rights of all Social Security beneficiaries.”
“Today was an important day for the Constitutional rights of individuals with disabilities,” said Chairman Johnson. “Just because someone has a disability does not mean they’re a threat to society. Needing help to manage your benefit does not make you dangerous. This resolution has strong support from the disability community, the NRA, and the ACLU. The Senate should act quickly to make sure the 2nd Amendment rights of individuals with disabilities are protected.”
I’m very glad to see Congress act so quickly to undo this regulation. Older people are especially vulnerable to criminals and they should absolutely be able to defend themselves if they have the capacity to do so.