WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The congressman who represents Grand Rapids is one of 14 founding members of a new congressional caucus that pledges to "advance pro-gun legislation" in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's victory.

The "Second Amendment Caucus," led by Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, counts among its 13 other Republican members Michigan U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township.

In response to a tweet thanking Amash for joining the new caucus, the congressman responded by saying it's part of a larger duty:

Thank you. It's my duty to defend all our rights. https://t.co/ujb6m3BmLD — Justin Amash (@justinamash) December 18, 2016

The group of congressional leaders will work with the newly-elected president to promote a "pro-gun agenda," Massie said in a Dec. 8 press release announcing the new caucus.

"The recent election results present us with a new opportunity to advance pro-gun legislation and reverse the erosion of the Second Amendment that's occurred over the last few decades," he said.

It's not the first time such a caucus has existed within the U.S. Congress. Previous versions exited from 2004-2008 and again from 2009-2013, when it was headed by a Georgia Republican, U.S. Rep. Paul Broun.

Amash, who easily won reelection to a fourth term in Congress last month, has long promised voters and constituents that he will advocate for their Constitutional rights.

The congressman has been critical of the current administration when he feels they run afoul of the nation's founding document, and has promised to do the same with the incoming administration under Trump's presidency.

The day after the Republican presidential nominee's victory -- and reelection victories for Amash and many of his GOP colleagues -- Amash posted the following photo of himself, Massie and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky:

In the past, Amash has been skeptical of efforts to place new limits on gun ownership. Here are two quotes on the issue from a 2013 interview for WGVU's West Michigan Week news program:

"You have a bill or set of bills that basically, largely, disarms the American people, and says to them, 'No, you have to depend on government for all of your security, you're not allowed to personally defend yourself.'

"I think that's a real problem, and when you look at assault weapons bans, I think you just have to be really careful. The threshold should be very high to say that a certain weapon should not be in the hands of the American people."

In addition to Massie and Amash, the following congressional leaders were listed as founding members of the Second Amendment Caucus: Jeff Duncan, R-South Carolina, Ted Yoho, R-Florida, Brian Babin, R-Texas, Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, Mark Meadows, R-North Carolina, Ken Buck, R-Colorado, Alex Mooney, R-West Virginia, Jody Hice, R-Georgia, Dave Brat, R-Virginia, Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, Scott Perry, R-Pennsylvania and James Comer, R-Kentucky.

Several of those same congressional leaders are also members of the House Liberty Caucus or the House Freedom Caucus. Both are often linked to the individuals and ideology of the Tea Party movement.

The House Liberty Caucus, patterned after a weekly meeting led previously by former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, was formally created by Amash after his election to Congress and focuses on Constitutional issues and those of individual liberty and economic freedom.

According to Massie's press release, caucus members will "lead efforts in the House of Representatives to pass meaningful firearms legislation and protect Americans against infringements of the Second Amendment."

In addition to drafting and sponsoring pro-gun legislation, Massie expects caucus members to invite firearm experts, constitutional scholars and pro-gun groups to speak to the group.