Posted on 02/13/2015 1:18:49 PM PST by forty_years
About a year ago, the Second Amendment community was rocked by news that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) had teamed up with Attorney General Eric Holder to utterly destroy firearms manufacturers and dealers by cutting off all credit and banking relationships with them.
For its part, the FDIC categorized gun and ammunition sales as a "high-risk business," lumping it in with drug dealers, pornographers, and Ponzi scheme operators -- all of which it was working to completely destroy.
Holder, in turn, would provide the "muscle" -- using a program called Operation Choke Point to make sure banks "got the message."
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) soon got appropriations language to defund Operation Choke Point. But when Holder promised to be a "good boy" and the FDIC removed guns from its "high-risk list," the appropriators relented and allowed the program to continue.
Not surprisingly, every evidence is that Holder was lying -- and has every intention to continue using Operation Choke Point to go after gun dealers on a case-by-case basis.
In Hawkins, Wisconsin, for instance, a bank was just recently pressured to deny credit to the local gun dealer for the purpose of shutting its doors. (And, incidentally, AG candidate Loretta Lynch lied to Vitter and Mike Lee about knowing nothing substantial about Choke Point, even when warned she would be asked about it.)
So now, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has introduced legislation to shut the doors of Operation Choke Point -- and bar all of the possible escape routes.
Rubio's bill, S. 477, would defund Operation Choke Point -- permanently. It would insure that the FDIC didn't use "fees" to fund a program which could no longer go on with appropriated funds. And it would prohibit Holder and the FDIC from reestablishing "Choke Point" under another name.
Furthermore, Rubio is committed to not just allow his legislation to lie dormant. He understands that he may have to add the proposal as an amendment to a must-pass bill. This is exactly what we will need to overcome a potential presidential veto.
Rubio's strategy can become a template for other pro-gun legislation, in addition to putting the Second Amendment community on the offense, rather than simply playing a defensive strategy.
I would assume that funding for enforcing these rules originated in the House.
Article. I., Section. 7. of the U.S. Constitution states:
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
I guess Rubio's legislation is based in the "but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills" clause.
Agree 100%. There is no excuse for any gun owner not to spend a few minutes filling in these forms.
Yeah, what happened to the big Republican wins??
OK, everyone, instead of listing all the reasons why we won’t act, how about if we all just get off our duffs and do something each and every time we’re able. Select the Gun Owner’s of America’s link and fill out the form as requested. GOA will do the rest and contact your Senator. We are losing this country piece by piece..so let’s get out there and FIGHT, instead of making excuse.
Mine are Chuckie Schmukie Schumer and some broad that took Hillary’s place and neither of them give a rats ass what I want.
That's the key to it and what makes the GOA lobbing so effective. Go to the contact pages of your Senators or your Representative, and you'll see that they're set up to filer out emails from anybody other than their constituents. Thus, expensive blast fax campaigns and so on burn a lot of money and paper but often don't influence Congress all that much. GOA's approach, OTOH, specifically targets congress critters, meaning that's where we get real influence.
I think I'm there also. After this last congressional election, all the promises, the placing Boehner back as speaker, retaining McConnell as senate leader...they are NOT listening to the American people.
They say one thing to deceive the voter, then do quite the opposite after the election.
BTTT
I’ll call but I am sick of calling only to be told one thing and then they vote the other way or be told that a certain issue is at the fore front of my reps agenda and then he does nothing about it.
Yes! Let’s have an Operation Choke Point against tall the Abortion Chambers. THAT is by definition a high-risk business - for the babies!
RandallFlagg: Good job posting the voting records. Glad you found the links useful.
...to utterly destroy firearms manufacturers and dealers by cutting off all credit and banking relationships with them. For its part, the FDIC categorized gun and ammunition sales as a "high-risk business," lumping it in with drug dealers, pornographers, and Ponzi scheme operators -- all of which it was working to completely destroy. Holder, in turn, would provide the "muscle" -- using a program called Operation Choke Point to make sure banks "got the message."
A battle of who can intimidate more?
The joy of cynicism... the devil rejoices knowing you now do nothing
My senators are McCain and Flake. Need I say more? Totally self centered and dedicated solely to their own reelection.
Kevin McCarthy here. Spit!
I called my Senators and requested they support/cosponsor S. 477. Thanks for the post. I believe we have to make our voice heard no matter what. I know of no battle won by sitting on the sidelines doing nothing.
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