Congressional 2A Caucus Founder Talks Deregulating Suppressors, National Reciprocity

Authors Current Events S.H. Blannelberry
Congressman Massie

Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY), the founder of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus.

Oftentimes when we elect public servants they get into office and then they disappear. Not literally disappear — but figuratively, in the sense that everything they promised us they’d do once elected they never seem to get done.

It’s rare that you meet a lawmaker who is actually doing something tangible to forward a cause near and dear to the hearts of the people. Well, I’m about to introduce you to someone who is doing just that: Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has recently (re)launched the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus.

What is the Second Amendment Caucus? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like, a group of ardently pro-gun lawmakers who are doing all they can to protect and promote Second Amendment rights. Founded back in 2004, the Caucus (which briefly changed its name in 2009 to the Second Amendment Task Force) stands behind the following founding principles:

  • Unconstitutional impediments to exercising the Second Amendment make the country less safe and less secure.
  • Gun ownership is an inalienable right that cannot be revoked, denied or stalled without due process of law.
  • The Second Amendment isn’t about hunting or sport shooting, but about the Citizen’s right to defend his or her country and rights against a tyrannical government.
  • Statistics continue to demonstrate that more firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens lead to a reduction in violent crimes.
  • A robust Fourth Amendment is essential to preserving the Second Amendment rights of all citizens.

The following congressmen are founding members of the caucus: Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Ted Yoho (R-FL), Brian Babin (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Ken Buck (R-CO), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Justin Amash (R-MI), Jody Hice (R-GA), Dave Brat (R-VA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Scott Perry (R-PA), and James Comer (R-KY).

Clearly for the last eight years pushing any type of pro-gun reform through Congress and pass the president’s desk was going to be an impossible task. Obama made it known that he was an enemy of the Second Amendment, specifically in his second term when he called for a renewal of the Clinton-era ban on black rifles, among other anti-gun laws.

However, now with the Trump administration on the verge of taking back the White House and a GOP-controlled Congress taking over Capitol Hill, the landscape looks a lot different.

“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,” Massie said in a press release. “I look forward to working with the new President and this determined group of conservatives to promote a pro-gun agenda,”

I wanted to get a little more clarity on what exactly the caucus could do as it relates to specific hot-button legislation, mainly a national concealed carry reciprocity bill that would allow licensed gun owners to carry concealed in all 50 states and the Hearing Protection Act, which would remove suppressors from the NFA naughty list.

This week, I reached out to Congressman Massie and asked him about those particular bills. Since the new caucus won’t meet until next year, it hasn’t yet adopted formal positions on legislation but, on the whole, Massie told me that “It’s safe to say that if legislation supports a citizen’s right to keep and bear arms we will be for it. If it infringes, we will vigorously oppose it.”

Massie did, however, provide me with his personal perspective on these bills.

“I’ve held concealed carry permits in New Hampshire and Kentucky, and I would dearly like to see the day when any U.S. citizen can carry in every state,” said Massie on concealed carry reciprocity, noting that many caucus members have cosponsored HR 923, HR 986 and even HR 4348.

As it relates to pulling suppressors from the NFA, Massie said, “A majority of our members have also cosponsored the Hearing Protection Act, HR 3799. In fact, I own a .223 caliber suppressor myself, so I’m familiar with the hassle that comes with the ridiculous over-regulation of these harmless devices.”

“Removing suppressors, and short barrel rifles (SBRs) for that matter, from the NFA registry is overdue in my personal opinion,” said Massie, who cautioned once again that this is his personal stance and not yet that of the caucus.

Skeptics may still ask the question, “Why do we need the Second Amendment Caucus?”

“Even though Republicans have controlled the House for six years, I haven’t seen a single pro-gun bill brought up in a committee for a hearing or debate, much less a vote,” said Massie in response to that very question.

“The Second Amendment Caucus can fill this void, while showing the American people that at least some members of Congress are truly dedicated to this issue,” he continued.

“If we raise the profile of all the great pro-gun legislation that’s been languishing in committees, and improve the language of the legislation by debating it in our caucus, perhaps we can compel the committees to act upon it, get it to the floor for a vote, and then send it to President Trump for his signature,” said Massie.

I don’t know about you but after corresponding with Congressman Massie I feel very optimistic about the chances of universal concealed carry reciprocity and deregulated suppressors becoming a reality in the next four years.  Fingers crossed!

Big thanks to Congressman Massie for taking the time to answer my questions. It’s good to know that we have lawmakers who are truly interested in protecting, defending and expanding our right to keep and bear arms.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • George February 8, 2017, 7:43 pm

    If a former felon is released into the community from incarceration and is therefore deemed safe enough to live in the freeworld, there is no good reason why he cannot keep & bear firearms.

    But until I see these politicians address that I’ll know that this is all re-election bid bullsh¡t.

  • Barkus Rudis December 23, 2016, 6:18 pm

    States should be able to decide who gets concealed weapon permits. In contrast, the 2A protects all citizens to be able to OWN weapons. Big difference. We cannot have it both ways. Less government given to the State vs Big brother. I personally think California and NYC are in violation of 2A, and this is where The Trumpster should concentrate.

    • Greatdad1421 December 24, 2016, 5:02 pm

      I strongly disagree. I have a PA CCW but all my family are in New England. The feds and PA staties have performed ample background checks to entrust me with a CCW. As soon as I cross a state line to visit my family, I am a convict. That’s BULLSHIT!

    • Al December 24, 2016, 7:50 pm

      It’s “keep and BEAR arms”. To BEAR is to physically carry.

    • David Brantley January 6, 2017, 10:35 am

      I recommend that Mr Rudis read the 2A …and bear…means carry, wield, etc. OWN and CARRY.

    • ejharb January 18, 2017, 5:22 pm

      If drivers licenses and homo marriage must be recognized in all states so should ccw permits! Otherwise force people to get visas to cross state lines.
      In some cases that would be a great idea.

  • Joe A. December 23, 2016, 5:00 pm

    If Suppressors are no longer NFA, what will happen to the pricing? I believe it will spike until industry can catch up to the demand (years?).

    I’ve been saving and am ready to purchase one. I’m thinking it’s best to buy now, wait the 9+ months and be on gov’t radar, than to pay jacked prices later or wait years until prices drop.

    Thoughts?

    • Toby C December 24, 2016, 8:28 am

      Good point.
      But I don’t think it will be that long for prices to even out. It won’t take long for other players in the firearms industry to start manufacturing as well. Imagine a Remington or a S&W can to go along with that same branded firearm you jut purchased.

  • Barkus Rudis December 23, 2016, 3:51 pm

    You are confusing concealed carry with right to own. Forcing the states to provide National Reciprocity is IMHO infringing on States rights to decide. I would rather go after California and NYC which continue to defy 2A.

  • Barkus Rudis December 23, 2016, 3:50 pm

    You are confusing concealed carry with right to own. Forcing the states to provide National Reciprocity is IMHO infringing on States rights to decide. I would rather go after California and NYC which continue to defy 2A.

  • Tracy Clark December 23, 2016, 2:39 pm

    It amazes me, how short sighted and naive some in the gun world are. What is so difficult to figure out about “what the Federal Goverment gives, it can take away”? What do you think happens to our gun rights when the Demoncrats get the Majority again? They take everything. The Federal Government needs to stay out of the CCP business and leave it to the States, as they do now.

  • Roy Eskridge December 23, 2016, 2:06 pm

    Another of the problems Obama is creating right now, is taking the right of gun ownership away from Social Security reciprocates, and Disabled American Vets! What the heck is that? We have all fought with guns, to keep this country, and it’s way of life Free I feel like if the Presidents can have people with guns protect them, the tax paying American Citizens, no matter what there status is, should have the right to keep and bare arms! Most of us DAV’s kind of fall into both of these categories! I’ve never had any problem purchasing a gun, and I would like for it to stay that way! This is lunacy, and discrimination at it’s finest! Leave it to a politician!

  • Michael December 23, 2016, 1:52 pm

    ALL infringements upon law abiding citens UNALIENABLE right to keep and bear arms are unconstitutional and completely illegal. Abolish all departments enforcing the fake statutes and regulations!

  • Roy Eskridge December 23, 2016, 1:48 pm

    I am so glad to hear of this caucus! I know my state Rep. is for these kinds of bills but, I think the problem is watching Paul Ryan, my state Congressman! I don’t feel safe with him in the position of House Speaker! He hangs more with the Democrats on everything it seems! Even though he says he is pro-gun, he seems to eager to make the Democratic party happy on their anti-gun laws! President Trump will need to step in and undo everything that Obama did damage too. Thanks, Tucker

  • Ross Walters December 23, 2016, 1:08 pm

    If for some reason I couldn’t avoid setting foot in California or New York it would be comforting to carry a firearm with me. I’d probably have to ditch my 15 round semi-automatic and tote my 5 round revolver due to their bizarre gun laws but I could live with that. If a Nationwide concealed-carry bill makes it to Trump’s desk he better sign it…he owes all 5 million NRA members (who put him into office) that much.

  • Matt Wright December 23, 2016, 12:07 pm

    Waiting for the day i can buy a suppressor without jumping through the NFA hoops.

    • deanbob December 23, 2016, 1:49 pm

      A suppressor would sure beat the hearing protectors!

  • Jeff December 23, 2016, 11:59 am

    God intended for humans the ability to discern which gives us the unique ability to decide what is the appropriate manner that an individual can take to protect him or her self . No other human being should be allowed to determine that for another.Just like no human has the right to take the life of another,it should be viewed in the same mind set. Government especially has no business in an individuals right to protect him or hers self .God given instinctual Fight or flight response, are what all humans possess.That can never be disputed.If so the species would have been gone a long long time ago.Therefore a man or women should never be limited to reasonable self defense choices.No talking head clueless bureaucrat or politician should be allowed to make a potential life or death decision to save ones self or loved one to think otherwise would be absurd.

  • Doc Loch December 23, 2016, 11:42 am

    I agree with many comments here. Glad to see that some get it. This congressman almost gets it. When will these congressmen and the gun community realize that REPEAL is what needs to be done. NO NEW LAWS! We have been oppressed on our rights. They can never be taken away. But we just fail to claim them because of our inability to believe they are more valuable than our own lives. The laws that have been made that touch the borders of the second named right should be removed with extreme prejudice and post haste. Even if this completely ALARMS the ignorant masses who would oppose it. As long as we have a population that believes that a law will actually keep crazies, fools, psychopaths, law-breakers, idiots, (did I forget anyone) from doing things that are wrong, we will NEVER have freedom. We need to STOP trying to legislate intelligence, morality or any other action. IT CAN’T BE DONE AND WE’VE PROVED IT! Now don’t get the wrong definition of that phrase, “you can’t legislate morality”. Apparently no one know what the phrase means. It means what as been describe above. It means that one CAN make a rule saying, “no killing!” They can even state punishments in that rule. BUT THE RULE WILL NEVER KEEP ANYONE FROM KILLING ANYONE ELSE! Only the individual’s moral attitude will keep them from doing something others believe is wrong. This moral attitude cannot be changed by making a rule, PERIOD! That is what the phrase means. Moral attitudes have been proven by studies and more importantly by logic to be best instilled by first a Mother, almost as importantly, a Father, and very importantly by a belief that there will be an overall, eternal justice…yes, a supreme being who when it’s all over will punish what was done wrongly and reward what is done rightly. Without this over-arching morality the question becomes: Why should I not take whatever I can, in my reasoning, get away with with the least amount of personal pain and misery? Thus, atheists become civil only as long as society is civil. When society as a whole abandons the idea of eternal justice then the reasons to be nice suddenly disappear, and society has broken down and those who do not believe in an eternal reward will do what is best for them in the moment. Ponder that one for awhile. A lot smarter people than you and I went through all of this through ages of time and realized in the Dark Ages what was missing. Don’t be a fool and go there again. Read some history. Get some morals and then kick everyone out of power (and keep govt. much smaller than it is) who doesn’t understand this principle. I am NOT advocating one religion! I am advocating a moral imperative that must exist and could be maintained in any form but must contain these eternal truths.

    • deanbob December 23, 2016, 1:52 pm

      Amen. I agree 100%. There are so many laws on the books. I have heard conservative program hosts say the average person breaks several laws a day. It is long past time to reduce the overkill.

  • Jeff December 23, 2016, 11:25 am

    While we’re at it lets give non violent first time felons there gun rights back. What happened to giving people a second chance.We seem to have no problem with giving illegal immigrants more rights than hard working tax paying citizens that have made a mistake in judgement . There is no reasonable reason that a natural born citizen of the U.S. Should be denied his or her gun rights for life because of a harmless mistake I emphasize NON VIOLENT crime.

  • Jay December 23, 2016, 9:06 am

    First off, I will never fathom the depth of ignorance of any living breathing human being against self preservation! If you don’t appreciate your very life, you have no right to drag the rest of us to the suicide wagon with you! All of the infringements on the second amendment need to go and go now! We have been picked to death on human rights and not just the second. We as a Nation are not Free anymore and in fact when it comes to Freedoms we are 12th for economic freedom but only 31st for personal freedoms! So how can we proclaim we are the only Free Nation in the world and be ranked that bad? We may have been created a Free Nation but we have let government get to big and to powerful with our own money, taxation itself is illegal, and we are paying the price for lack of involvement in our own government. No more politicians and no lifetime politicians for sure. We need people in government with no ties to paying back favors!

  • Tom December 23, 2016, 9:00 am

    Since a permit for concealed carry is not required to purchase a hand gun (in most states), why should a permit be required for concealed carry, other than to create a registry? Permits can be revoked and restrictions, over time gradually increased.

    If a person can pass an instant check, permit-less concealed carry should be a non-issue, just like in Arizona.

  • MagnumOpUS December 23, 2016, 8:44 am

    Let Freedom fully ring again!

  • Thomas Mcclam December 23, 2016, 7:52 am

    God speed to Mr Massey.

  • RetNavet December 23, 2016, 5:28 am

    To the 2nd Amendment Caucus, I say God Speed !!!!

  • Billybob December 23, 2016, 4:52 am

    NOT RAPIDFIRE ASSOCIATION
    What has Wayne done ? Isn\’t time for the NRA to drain the swamp also ! NOV. was for ALL THE COOKIES ! THE NRA SHOULD HAVE SPENT EVERY DIME WE HAD to WIN ! We Won Just by the Grace of God ! The next Supreme Court determines the FUTURE OF AMERICA !
    Nationwide reciprocity using the state permit, not a federal permit. No different than a drivers license
    Suppressors and SBRs, SBS, AOWs off the NFA
    Overturn the 5.45x 39 7N6 ammunition ban
    Overturn Bush 1’s import ban
    Repeal the 1986 machine gun and armor piercing pistol ammunition bans
    Repeal the 1968 GCA
    Repeal the 1934 NFA
    ALL THINGS YOU NEVER SEE IN AN NRA magazine !
    P.S. I am a Life Member – My Wife also is a Life Member – We are both Endowment Members- and send money to
    NRA-ILA ! Only to be thrown under the bus in 1986 !

    • joe December 23, 2016, 8:57 am

      Great list – but I think you’ve been misled to think Republicans are pro-gun. Look at the Bush years …

      • Billybob December 23, 2016, 4:17 pm

        Poor Little Joe ! To DUMB to see there was only ONE PRO GUN ! We all see who you voted for anti gun Hillary or Sanders
        or Johnson ! Next you will run you MOUTH SAYING NO ONE needs anything more that double barrel shot gun !

  • Capn Stefano December 19, 2016, 2:44 pm

    For the first time in my 56 years on this rock, I have hope that we can regain some of our God given liberties

    Suggested order..
    Nationwide reciprocity using the state permit, not a federal permit. No different than a drivers license
    Suppressors and SBRs, SBS, AOWs off the NFA
    Overturn the 5.45x 39 7N6 ammunition ban
    Overturn Bush 1’s import ban
    Repeal the 1986 machine gun and armor piercing pistol ammunition bans
    Repeal the 1968 GCA
    Repeal the 1934 NFA

    After all that, we would be close to actually having the true 2nd Amendment again

    • Doug dawson December 23, 2016, 4:06 am

      hell ya

    • Jack D S December 23, 2016, 10:16 am

      What the hell? Remove all restrictions on all weapon ownership and allow civilians to buy whatever they want. After all who cannot use an F-35 or an attack helicopter in the garage for the time when the neighbor down the street looks wrong at you.

      Nationwide reciprocity using the state permit, not a federal permit. No different than a drivers license makes sense.
      Suppressors and SBRs is fine too.

      The rest – has no civilian use.

      I have my flame suit on.

      • Capn Stefano December 23, 2016, 2:02 pm

        What part of ARMS and Shall Not Be Infringed is so difficult for you? The 2nd Amendment is an absolute RIGHT to own military weapons. The Militia ARE civilians

      • Tracy Clark December 23, 2016, 2:34 pm

        You Sir, are an idiot and an obvious libtard trolling this forum.

        • alan keithley December 23, 2016, 8:27 pm

          if you are referring to mr. stefano
          sir
          then it is you
          sir
          who is the IDIOT
          it is you,sir (while using a rather large vocabulary) — ( whew a new word, libtard )…….get a life, CLOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • American December 17, 2016, 9:11 pm

    Way to go Congressman Massie I hope this goes thru. I like short barreled rifles. Trappers Model lever actions with 14 inch barrels,very handy off horseback or pick-up truck.

Send this to a friend