WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduced H.R. 3516, the Social Security Beneficiary 2nd Amendment Rights Protection Act. This legislation would stop the Obama administration’s attempt to limit the Second Amendment rights of millions of Social Security beneficiaries.

Upon introduction, Chairman Johnson said, “It’s no secret President Obama isn’t a fan of our 2nd Amendment. Because he failed to push his gun control agenda through Congress, his Administration is now seeking to deny millions of law-abiding Americans their right to bear arms by going through Social Security. Old age or a disability does not make someone a threat to society. These folks should be able to defend themselves just like everyone else, and Social Security has no business stripping them of that right. This bill puts a stop to yet another overreach by the Obama administration. I am committed to ensuring the rights of all Americans are protected.”

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Background:

On January 16, 2013, President Obama issued a memorandum requiring the Social Security Administration (SSA)—among other agencies—to identify and submit information to National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). In response to this memorandum, the SSA is exploring options for submitting the names of certain Social Security beneficiaries to the NICS database, which could affect up to 4.2 million Americans. Once a person’s name is submitted to this database, they are effectively prohibited from possessing a firearm of any kind.

In response, Chairman Johnson has introduced H.R. 3516, the Social Security Beneficiary 2nd Amendment Rights Protection Act, which would prevent any determination of the Commissioner of Social Security being used as an adjudication of an individual as “mentally defective.”

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