U.S. Senators Jim Risch of Idaho and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi introduced the Gun-Owner Registration Information Protection (GRIP) Act on Mar. 9 to prevent states from using federal funding or background check data to maintain gun registries.
The proposed legislation aims to address concerns about government overreach and the protection of Second Amendment rights for law-abiding citizens. Supporters say the bill would close loopholes that allow state and local governments to use federal resources for maintaining firearms registries, which some believe could infringe on constitutional rights.
“Idaho’s law-abiding gun owners should not be subject to illegal firearms registries,” said Risch. “The GRIP Act closes the loophole exploited by state and local governments to ensure federal dollars are not used to keep illegal gun registries that undermine Idahoans’ Second Amendment rights.”
Hyde-Smith said, “The Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens remain imperiled as Democrats and anti-gun activists lean into government overreach. The GRIP Act is needed to clarify that states and localities cannot use federal funds or data to keep gun registries that can lead to infringing on a constitutional right.”
The bill is co-sponsored by several Republican senators, including Mike Crapo, Bill Cassidy, Cynthia Lummis, Jim Justice, Ted Budd, John Cornyn, John Hoeven, Bill Hagerty, Steve Daines, Pete Ricketts, Kevin Cramer, and Marsha Blackburn. The National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation support the legislation.
Current law prohibits the federal government from keeping a national firearms registry with information obtained through background checks. The GRIP Act seeks to extend these protections by ensuring state and local governments cannot use federal funds for collecting or storing personally identifiable information related to legal firearm purchases or ownership.
According to the official website, Risch has advocated for energy independence, Second Amendment rights, protection of Idaho agriculture and natural resources, achieved property tax reductions and increased funding for public schools according to the official website. He has served as U.S. Senator for Idaho and chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee while holding positions on committees for Energy and Natural Resources, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Intelligence and Ethics according to the official website. Risch resides on a ranch outside Boise with his wife, three sons and nine grandchildren according to the official website, maintains offices across Idaho and in Washington D.C., according to the official website advocates for energy independence while defending Idaho agriculture against federal overreach according to the official website, and previously held roles as Ada County Prosecuting Attorney, Idaho State Senator, Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Idaho according to the official website.
Supporters of the GRIP Act argue it will reinforce existing protections against firearm registries at all levels of government. Observers will watch how Congress responds as debate continues over balancing public safety measures with constitutional rights.
