U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Iowa, has reintroduced the Preserving Rights of Tenants by Ensuring Compliance to the Second Amendment Act, also known as the PROTECT the Second Amendment Act. This bill, officially titled H.R. 2930, aims to prevent landlords or property managers from infringing on tenants’ Second Amendment rights.
The proposed legislation specifically protects any resident who lives in a property that receives federal funding. It ensures they are not subjected to unconstitutional restrictions regarding firearm possession within their home or when traversing common areas on their way to or from their residence. Feenstra emphasizes that federal taxpayer money “should never be used to infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves in their own home.”
The executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), John Commerford, expressed support for the bill, highlighting that the right to keep firearms at home for self-defense has been a fundamental freedom since the nation’s founding, reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Commerford stated, “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.”
Rep. Feenstra also defended his proposal, stating, “The right of Iowans to keep and bear arms is enshrined in our Constitution and shall not be infringed. These constitutional protections must be strongly defended and certainly do not cease to exist for gun owners living in rental properties. 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. 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.”
Feenstra’s initiative continues to focus on ensuring that constitutional rights, particularly related to firearm ownership, are upheld for those living in federally assisted rental properties.
