Bill marks a massive constraint on gun rights, Amash claims

By: Elias J. Atienza

Representative Justin Amash (R-MI) warned on Twitter about an incoming bill that he says would infringe on the “1st, 2nd, 5th & 6th Amendments.” The bill, called the “Homeland Safety and Security Act,” was introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

The bill is in response to the Democratic sit-in last week.

Democrats staged a 25 hour sit-in because Republicans refused to vote on a controversial gun control package measures that would have banned selling firearms to people on the no-fly list.

House Republicans are pushing a horrendous bill this week. The gun section alone infringes the 1st, 2nd, 5th & 6th Amendments. #StopHR5611 — Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 3, 2016

The purpose of the bill is “[t]o prevent terrorists from launching attacks and obtaining passports, and for other purposes.”

Amash went on Twitter to slam the bill.

1/ If #HR5611 (vote this week) becomes law, it will mark a massive expansion of govt's restriction of gun rights on the basis of precrime. — Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 4, 2016

Amash was most likely pointing to the provision in the act which called for giving the Attorney General the authority to deny sales of firearms to suspected or known terrorists.

2/ Under #HR5611, govt denies your gun rights not bc you committed or attempted a crime, but merely bc govt claims you'll act in the future. — Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 4, 2016

The bill would allow the Attorney General to “delay the transfer of the firearm or explosive for a period not to exceed 3 business days.” It would also allow the Attorney General to “file an emergency petition in a court of 4 competent jurisdiction to prohibit the transfer of the 5 firearm or explosive, which petition shall receive the 6 highest priority on the docket of that court.”

3/ Under #HR5611, you're guilty of having committed a future crime unless you prove to a judge (no jury) that you won't commit it. #dystopia — Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 4, 2016

The bill would also allow for the Attorney General to arrest and detain a person if there is “probable cause to believe that the person has committed, conspired to commit, or attempted to commit an act of terrorism.”

In addition to these provisions, the bill would establish a new office called the Office for Partnerships to Prevent Terrorism within the Department of Homeland Security whose main goal is to combat radical Islamic terrorism. Other parts of the bill include restricting terrorists from getting passports and launching attacks.

New bill: #HR5611, to prevent terrorists from launching attacks and obtaining passports https://t.co/Bg66RVvGJk — WashingtonWatch.com (@washingtonwatch) July 3, 2016

The House is expected to vote on the measures this week.