On Thursday, two Second Amendment powerhouses combined forces and filed an amicus brief in the legal challenge to the lifetime firearm ban imposed on nonviolent felons.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) partnered with the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) in Atkinson v. Blanche. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals is accepting arguments in the volatile legal battle that could affect numerous Americans.
Man still does not have gun rights nearly 30 years after nonviolent felony
Patrick Atkins pleaded guilty nearly three decades ago to one count of mail fraud, which was a Class C felony. The defendant received no jail time and was sentenced to two years’ probation, which was ultimately halved.
He is, by all accounts, a law-abiding citizen living an upstanding life for well over two decades. However, under federal law, he is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms for the rest of his life due to the 1998 offense for which he did not spend time behind bars.
The brief detailed how such laws do not withstand the required Bruen test of aligning with the nation’s history and tradition of gun control.
Current federal law obviously does not align with established precedents
“America’s historical tradition of firearm regulation allows for the disarmament of demonstrably dangerous persons, disaffected persons posing a threat to the government, and persons with a proven proclivity for violence,” the amicus brief argued. “But there is no historical tradition of disarming peaceable citizens.”
Instead, the NRA and FPC noted, nonviolent felons have historically enjoyed and were even required to possess firearms.
Of course, this is a far cry from their current status.
Understand that no one wants dangerous individuals disarmed more than Second Amendment supporters. We fully understand and support legitimate efforts to maintain public safety that do not infringe on an enumerated right, if the law and due process are duly respected.
A nonviolent offender receiving a lifetime gun ban in most circumstances is an obvious federal overreach.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.