ProtectingSecondAmendmentRights
DateIssued:February7,2025
Topic:CivilRights,CriminalJustice,Health
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
ThisorderdirectstheAttorneyGeneraltoconductacomprehensive reviewofallgovernmentactions,policies,regulations,andagreements fromthepastfouryearsthatmayhaveinfringeduponAmericans' SecondAmendmentrights.
Within30days,theAttorneyGeneralmustpresentaproposedplanof actiontothePresident,throughtheDomesticPolicyAdvisor,toprotect andupholdtherighttokeepandbeararms.Thereviewincludes examiningrulesfromtheBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,Firearms,and Explosives(ATF),enforcementpoliciesrelatedtofirearms,WhiteHouse reportsongunviolenceprevention,litigationaffectinggunrights,and firearmclassificationandlicensingprocesses.Oncetheplanofactionis submitted,theAttorneyGeneralistocollaboratewiththeDomestic PolicyAdvisortofinalizeandimplementit,ensuringfederalpoliciesalign withtheconstitutionalrighttobeararms.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
TheenforcementofthisorderbeginswiththeAttorneyGeneral'sreviewof allrelevantpresidentialandagencyactionsfromJanuary2021toJanuary 2025,focusingonpoliciesthatmayhaverestrictedSecondAmendment rights.TheAttorneyGeneralwillevaluaterulesissuedbytheATFandthe DepartmentofJustice,examinefirearmclassifications,assesslitigation positionsthatcouldimpactgunrights,andanalyzeregulatory enforcementpoliciesaffectingfirearmmanufacturersandsellers.
Aftercompilingfindings,theAttorneyGeneralmustsubmitaproposed planofactiontothePresident,outliningnecessarychangestoprotect SecondAmendmentrights.TheDomesticPolicyAdvisorwillworkwiththe AttorneyGeneraltofinalizeandimplementtheplan,ensuringall governmentagenciesadjusttheirpoliciesaccordingly.The implementationprocesswillbeguidedbyexistinglawsandbudgetary constraints,withallexecutivedepartmentsandagenciesexpectedto complywiththefinalizedplan.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
TheimpactofthisorderonBlackcommunitieswilllargelydependon howrevisedgunpoliciesaffectaccesstofirearms,self-defenserights, andpublicsafety.Iftheorderresultsintheremovalofregulatorybarriers, law-abidingBlackgunownersmayfinditeasiertoobtainfirearmsfor self-protection.However,changesingunlawsmightalsoalterlaw enforcementstrategies,potentiallyimpactinghowgun-relatedcrimes arepolicedinBlackcommunities.Theseshiftscouldaffectbroader conversationsaboutgunviolenceprevention,communitysafety,and interactionswithlawenforcement.
Inaddition,theunequalapplicationofSecondAmendmentrightsraises concernsaboutwhetherBlackgunownersaretrulyprotected.Historical andcontemporarycases,suchasthoseofEmanticBradfordJr.,Jemel Roberson,andPhilandoCastile,underscoreatroublingdoublestandard. Whilewhitegunownersareoftencelebratedasdefendersoffreedom, Blackgunownersfacedeadlyconsequences,oftenwithoutsupportfrom majorgunrightsgroupsliketheNationalRifleAssociation(NRA).This inconsistencyreflectshistoricalstrugglesforBlackAmericans’rightto beararms,aslawsinthe1600sand1700ssystematicallyprohibitedBlack peoplefromowningfirearms,solidifyingracialdivisions.Evenafterthe CivilWar,theSupremeCourtfailedtoensurethattheSecond AmendmentappliedtoBlackAmericans.
ResearchalsoshowsthatWhiteAmericans’attitudestowardgunrights areshapedbyracialbiases.Whiteindividualswithstronganti-Black sentimentstendtoopposeguncontrol,buttheirsupportweakenswhen theylearnthatBlackAmericansareobtaininggunpermitsathigher rates.Theseracialdynamicscontributetotheongoingmarginalization ofBlackgunowners.Infact,thelegacyoftheSecondAmendmenthas oftenbeenoneofexclusionandracialinequality. Systemicbiases continuetoshapepublicattitudesandpolicies,complicatingtheability ofBlackAmericanstoexercisetheirrightsfully.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasworkedtirelesslytoprevent gunviolenceinBlackcommunities,whichisjeopardizedbythisexecutive order.In2022,then-CBCChairRep.JoyceBeattyissuedthefollowing statementontheBipartisanSaferCommunitiesActthatformerPresident JoeBidensignedintolaw:“Thisbipartisanlegislationistheculminationof strategiceffortsandleadershipfromtheCongressionalBlackCaucus andunderscoresthehistoricnatureofoureffortstostemthetideofgun violenceinourcommunities.TherearemanyCBCMember-ledprovisions includedandweacceptthisbipartisan,common-senselegislationto betterprotectAmerica'schildrenandfamilies,keepourschoolssafeand reducethethreatofviolenceacrossourcountry.”FullStatement
Aftera2023shootingatahospitalinAtlanta,GA,Sen.RaphaelWarnock madethefollowingstatement:“Wecan’twaitanother30yearsfor Congresstopassmeaningfulcommonsensegunsafetylegislation.And wecan’twaitforthenextheadline,thenexttragicflashpoint,because thereisaprofoundwayinwhichthesetragediesarehappeningevery singleday.Themessageiscleartoday:thatgunviolenceisnotthecost offreedom.Thisisnotthecostoffreedom.Thisisthecostofblind obstinance.”