On a 235-180 vote, the House of Representatives rescinded the rule, adopted in December, to heighten scrutiny of mentally impaired adults who seek to buy a firearm. | AP Photo House votes to rescind Obama gun background check rule

The House voted Thursday to rescind an Obama administration rule that heightened scrutiny of mentally impaired people who seek to purchase a firearm — but that critics said would strip law abiding citizens of their constitutional rights.

On a 235-180 vote, members voted to rescind the rule, adopted in December, that permits the Social Security Administration to send information about those who receive disability payments to the national system of background checks for gun purchasers if those individuals are determined to be mentally impaired.


The move was hailed by the National Rifle Association as a victory for Second Amendment rights.

“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, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action. “Today’s vote was the first step in revoking this unconstitutional action.”

The House vote came as part of a wave of last-minute Obama administration regulations that are being undone by the Republican Congress under the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress the power to unravel regulations before they take effect.

Democrats ripped the move as an effort by Republicans to undermine background checks for gun purchasers. After the House vote, Sen. Dianne Feinstein pleaded with supporters to rally against the move in the Senate.

“Senate may vote today to weaken background checks on gun purchases. Call your Senator to oppose this change —ensure your voice is heard!” she wrote.

The NRA quickly retorted: “You are a sitting senator. Shouldn't you make sure your tweets are accurate?"

Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) said in a statement that the vote “was about weakening our firearms background check system, plain and simple.” She said it was expected that about 75,000 people per year would be reported under the regulation.

Under the rule, the administration would provide “pertinent information about these individuals to the Attorney General” at least four times a year. The rule indicates that those identified would be notified about “their possible Federal prohibition on possessing or receiving firearms, the consequences of such prohibition, the criminal penalties for violating the Gun Control Act, and the availability of relief from the prohibition.”

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the people who would be affected by the Obama administration rule. It would apply to individuals receiving disability payments through the Social Security Administration.