Reps. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and Ted Poe (R-Texas) introduced the Freedom From Intrusive Regulatory Enforcement of Arbitrary Registration Mandates (FIREARM) Act on Thursday.
The legislation would prohibit the federal government from requiring race or ethnicity to be disclosed in connection with the purchase of a firearm.
In 2012, the Obama administration began requiring the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to record firearms purchasers’ race and ethnicity.
“This requirement by the ATF is highly intrusive and unnecessary,” Black said. “Failing to adhere to this requirement by not checking all of the correct boxes on the 4473 Form is considered an ATF violation that can be so severe as to result in the gun dealer being shut down for having incomplete purchaser forms. This is causing a headache for many firearms retailers and this commonsense legislation would simply stop the federal government from requiring businesses and consumers to comply with this ‘race and ethnicity standard.’”
The ATF’s justification for this requirement stems from a “race and ethnicity standard” devised by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) almost 20 years ago. According to the OMB, the 4473 Form was to be updated by ATF by 2003; however, there is no federal law requiring this administrative directive.