Press Releases

Today, Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) introduced the Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act to guarantee that law-abiding Americans can continue to exercise their Second Amendment rights during a government shutdown. The bill requires federal agencies to continue processing firearm applications and licenses even when the government is closed. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced the companion measure in the U.S. Senate.                                                                                                                            

“Law-abiding Americans shouldn’t lose their Second Amendment rights every time Washington fails to do its job. The Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act ensures that government dysfunction doesn’t stand in the way of lawful firearm purchases or penalize small businesses that follow the law. I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bill alongside Senator Jim Risch to ensure citizens’ rights are protected and lawful commerce continues, shutdown or not,” said Rep. Ben Cline.

“The government shutdown has real impacts on real people, but it certainly should not compromise our constitutional rights. While Democrats pander to their far-Left base, federal agencies have stopped processing firearm applications, unjustly restricting law-abiding Idahoans’ Second Amendment rights,” said Senator Jim Risch. “My Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act ensures our right to lawfully bear arms is not infringed when there is a lapse in appropriations.”

The Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act is supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), National Rifle Association (NRA), Gun Owners of America (GOA), American Suppressor Association (ASA), and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).

“NSSF applauds Congressman Ben Cline for his leadership on the Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act to ensure the firearm industry can continue to fully serve law-abiding Americans during government shutdowns. Their Second Amendment rights, and the constitutionally protected firearm commerce that makes the exercise of those rights possible, must not be held hostage by Congress’s inability to keep the federal government open,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

"While the Trump Administration has made the processing of NFA items an essential function during a government shutdown, there is still no guarantee under federal law. The Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans must not be harmed due to a Democrat lead government shutdown in Washington,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. “NRA applauds Representative Cline and Senator Risch for introducing the Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act, which will ensure firearms related processes within the Federal government continue and are deemed essential, regardless of the situation in Washington." 

“We applaud Congressman Cline and Senator Risch for standing up for millions of law-abiding gun owners and defending Second Amendment rights in the midst of the Democrat-led government shutdown,” said Knox Williams, President and Executive Director of the American Suppressor Association. “The Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act would codify in statute that, while the unconstitutional NFA registry remains in place, government shutdowns cannot be used to punish gunowners. For too long, lawful firearm and suppressor owners have faced unnecessary delays and uncertainty every time Washington fails to do its job. The American Suppressor Association helped lead the fight to get NFA inspectors back to work during the shutdown, and we stand firmly behind this critical legislation to protect and preserve Americans’ Second Amendment rights.” 

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.