Many have been eagerly awaiting this news, and now it is here: Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator for Alabama, announced the end of blanket military holds on federal firearms licenses.
This announcement has been hailed as a major victory for gun rights activists and gun lovers alike. Under the new policy, military members are no longer required to file Form 4s with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). This eliminates a major legislative hurdle for gun owners.
The new rules also allow military members to purchase firearms without being subjected to the Bureau’s approval process. The individual instead has to undergo two different programs, the NICS and the DoD firearms registration process, to determine whether they are eligible to buy a firearm.
The new rules mark a major shift in gun policy for the military. The blanket military holds were put in place in 2009 by the Obama administration after the Virginia Tech shooting and were meant to help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
In a statement released by Tuberville, he said, “Our goal from the very beginning has been to ensure our military spouses and children have every opportunity to purchase a firearm so that they can effectively protect themselves and their families. We should ensure that members of our armed services have access to legal ownership of firearms without having to jump through hoops or fear government interference. Today’s announcement is a victory for true Second Amendment rights that our brave men and women in uniform have fought to protect.”
Tuberville’s announcement has been met with praise from gun rights advocates and military personnel alike. The new policy also has the support of many gun control advocates who believe that the blanket military holds could not effectively prevent firearms from getting into the hands of criminals.
This new policy stands as a major shift for gun rights in the United States. The blanket military holds have long been opposed by gun rights advocates, and now that they have been removed, it is expected that the nation’s military members will have greater access to firearms. This in turn should help to ensure that those who have served the nation and their families are able to defend themselves and protect those they love.
