**House Republicans Raise Concerns Over Government Shutdown Impact on Gun Owners**
A group of 30 House Republicans is sounding the alarm over how the ongoing government shutdown is affecting gun owners across the United States. Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.) led his colleagues in a letter addressed to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), highlighting the consequences of the shutdown on firearm-related services.
ATF application examiners are among the employees currently furloughed due to the shutdown. As a result, Americans are unable to acquire popular NFA-regulated firearms and safety equipment—such as short-barreled rifles and silencers—because there is no one available at the ATF to approve these applications.
The House GOP letter emphasized the constitutional implications, stating, “NFA application approvals are related to the discharge of the President’s constitutional duties and powers. The President of the United States is charged with protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States, and this includes the Second Amendment.”
Additionally, the Republicans argued that the shutdown-induced pause in processing could jeopardize Americans’ safety and property. They noted that the ATF similarly halted the processing of NFA applications during previous government shutdowns, underscoring the recurring nature of this issue.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/government-shutdown-putting-gun-owners-rights-risk-republicans-warn