In the waning days of the presidential race, Donald Trump’s campaign quietly announced the formation of a “coalition” dedicated to protecting the Second Amendment. The 62-member group would be helmed by the president-elect’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., along with Chris Cox, the National Rifle Association’s top lobbyist. “These leaders will continue to advise Mr. Trump and Governor Pence as they protect our Supreme Court and our right to keep and bear arms,” a press release said.

John Boch, the executive director of Illinois-based group Guns Save Life, was one of those named to the coalition. In an interview with The Trace, Boch says he is eager to share with the new administration his views on how to dismantle decades of presidential actions on firearms — just as soon as he is asked.

“I am looking forward to helping protect and defend the Second Amendment over the course of a generation or two,” he told The Trace by phone, noting that he was cleaning his gun while he chatted.

The list of policies that Boch is eager to see eliminated is similar to those of other gun activists: He wants aggressive legislation that will force states to honor concealed carry permits issued by states with looser gun laws. He also wants Trump to roll back many other, less-known measures implemented by his predecessors, including the elimination of restrictions on purchases of Chinese guns.

The agenda Boch proposes highlights the intent of gun rights advocates to undo as many federal firearms regulations as they can. They have good cause for their optimism: Trump ran the most assertively pro-gun campaign in memory, backed by record breaking funding from the NRA.

Here’s what Boch told The Trace he’s expecting President Trump to do:

1. Rescind a slate of executive actions issued by President Obama. That list includes 23 relating to guns signed after the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Those actions include ordering the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence; declaring that doctors are not barred under the Affordable Care Act from asking patients about gun ownership; and creating incentives for states to report information into the National Instant Background Check system.

Most recently, in January, Obama announced that any and all firearms dealers engaged in the business of selling guns must obtain a federal license and conduct background checks on all buyers.

Trump promised to “veto” the background check directive, adding: “I will unsign that so fast.”

Trump, in fact, cannot veto or unsign Obama’s move, which was technically a public announcement of a clarification by the ATF of existing law. But he can announce a reversal of Obama’s steps, which would have the same result.

2. Remove limits on arming service members at military facilities, such as recruitment centers. Few military offices are “gun-free” though firearms at facilities are restricted by a decades-old Defense Department policy limiting who can carry weapons to those servicemembers who specifically apply and undergo training to do so in military offices. Trump vowed to “mandate that soldiers remain armed and on alert at our military bases.”

3. Revoke restrictions on importing Chinese guns and ammunition. Some gun enthusiasts hope to buy Chinese arms manufacturer Norinco’s MAK-90, a version of the AK-47 semi-automatic, and other knockoffs of popular brands the company makes. Those who want to purchase these guns believe they would be relatively cheap, and in some cases object philosophically to restrictions on buying them. Laws that effectively prevent importing Chinese weapons and components date to a 1989 executive order signed by President George H.W. Bush that banned foreign-made semi-automatic guns. In 1994, President Bill Clinton also barred sales by China’s biggest gunmaker, as a part of a trade deal. In 2003, under President George W. Bush, the Treasury Department further banned imports of Norinco after the company was accused of violating international nonproliferation laws by selling missile parts to Iran.

4. Make silencers easy to access. Boch wants the Trump administration to work with allies in the Republican-dominated Congress to pass legislation that allows silencers to be purchased at regular federally licensed firearms dealers (they currently fall under special regulations enacted by the 1934 Firearms Control Act). Some gun users say they want silencers to prevent potential hearing damage and reduce noise that bothers other nearby.

Boch and another member of the coalition who spoke with The Trace said they know of no plans to meet or formally communicate. Aides to two members of Congress listed as co-chairs of the coalition said that they were unaware that the lawmakers had even been named to the group.

But Boch says he doesn’t really care: His candidate is headed to the White House, and he feels secure. “I don’t see a whole lot of limits to what we can do,” he says.

Quoted:
That number 3 though!


My dick is so hard. I need all the chicom ammo in my life.

Quoted:
I think we should petition them to add Hughes Amendment removal to that list.

Quoted:
Dealers don't need to be involved in silencer sales. Make them unregulated.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Quoted:
I'm going to have to get a second job just so I can afford everything that will come flooding into the country.  

A couple of questions though.


What about the Russian guns, like the Saiga 12.  Are imports on those still blocked?  Can something be done to get that lifted?


Also parts kits with barrels were banned.  Can that ban be lifted.  It killed the import market especially for AK type firearms.  It used to be you could by an AK parts kit, with barrel, for under $100.  Now you pay close to $400 for the kit because you have to buy a new barrel.


Both Clinton and Bush directed the ATF to redefine "sporting purpose" and they used that to limit some of the imports.  Can Trump ask them to redefine it again but in the context of "sporting purpose or any other legal activity"?  I would really like to see "sporting purpose" be eliminated but that would be a huge stretch, so the addition of "any legal purpose" would cover that for now.


I also didn't see any mention of re-importing millions of M1 Garands that we gave South Korea.  Obama repeatedly blocked this.  The CMP is in desperate need of those rifles.  They operate a great program and should be supported in any way possible.

Quoted:
That number 3 though!


My dick is so hard. I need all the chicom ammo in my life.

Quoted:
Chicom ammo worth shit?

Quoted:
I'm shocked the importation embargos are even being mentioned. The 1989 and 1994 importation bans would allow A LOT to be imported, that's a hardcore win for us. "Never to be imported again Norinco Type 56" sale ads come to mind. I don't think anyone expected that to go away in our lifetime.


I feel like Loyd Christmas.. "So... you're saying there's a chance?!"

Quoted:
I never thought getting suppressors reclassified as Title II Title I would ever be possible, I am incredibly excited about that possibility.

Quoted:
I'm doing a bit of research on chicom ammo prices.

Norinco corosive 7.62x39 by the 1,440rd case $0.15 usd per round at the current exchange rate.
https://gun-shop.ca/product/7-62x39mm-norinco-green-crate-ammo/

Norinco 7.62x39 copper washed steel case non-corrosive $0.26 usd per round
https://www.canadaammo.com/product/detail/norinco-copper-washed-7-62x39-ammunition-crate-of-1200

I don't know how Canada taxes ammo imports but besides the corrosive 7.62 ammo it doesn't seem any cheaper than the Russian stuff we can get right now.