A measure introduced in the U.S. Congress on April 17 is designed to secure the Second Amendment rights of Americans who live in rental properties whose landlords receive financial assistance from the federal government.
The Preserving Rights of Tenants by Ensuring Compliance to (PROTECT) the Second Amendment Act, HR 2930, was introduced by Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa. In a nutshell, it would ensure that landlords and rental property managers cannot unlawfully restrict tenants’ firearm ownership, which is currently a common problem.
“The right of Iowans to keep and bear arms is enshrined in our Constitution and shall not be infringed,” Rep. Feenstra said in a news release announcing the legislation. “These constitutional protections must be strongly defended and certainly do not cease to exist for gun owners living in rental properties.”
Rep. Feenstra added that the measure will protect tenants in his home state of Iowa, as well as gun owners throughout the country who rent their residences.
“My PROTECT the Second Amendment Act ensures that landlords or rental property managers who receive federal financial assistance at taxpayer expense cannot unlawfully restrict Americans from exercising their constitutional rights,” he said. “As a strong advocate of the Second Amendment, I will always defend the right of Iowans to keep and bear arms and support law-abiding gun owners.”
According to Rep. Feenstra, the legislation has three main objectives. These include protecting tenants’ rights to lawfully own a firearm within federally assisted rental housing, allowing the lawful transport of firearms through common areas when entering and exiting the property and preventing property managers and landlords who accept federal assistance from prohibiting or discriminating against tenants’ constitutional right to own a firearm.
Although it was just introduced this week, the measure is already garnering support from several gun-rights groups, including the National Rifle Association (NRA). John Commerford, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislation Action (NRA-ILA) applauded Rep. Feenstra for introducing the much-needed legislation.
“The right of law-abiding Americans to keep firearms in their homes for self-defense has been a fundamental freedom since our nation’s founding and has been reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Commerford said. “No one should be forced to give up this right, especially when a landlord or property manager is receiving federal tax dollars. The NRA applauds Representative Feenstra for introducing this important legislation that protects the right to keep and bear arms.”
The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. Rep. Feenstra proposed the same legislation last year, when Democrats controlled the U.S. Senate.
