PROTECT the Second Amendment Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2930
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-11T08:05:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to protect the Second Amendment rights of residents in federally assisted rental housing by ensuring they cannot be prohibited or subjected to extra restrictions on lawfully possessing firearms in their living spaces or while transiting common areas.
Key Provisions
- Firearm Possession Rights: Residents of covered housing cannot be banned from or face additional rules when legally owning or carrying a firearm inside their individual dwelling unit. This also applies to common areas (like hallways or lobbies) when the resident is directly traveling to or from their unit with the firearm.
- Definition of Covered Housing: "Covered federally assisted rental housing" includes any rental unit or project receiving financial support from programs run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Specific programs listed include:
- Public housing under the United States Housing Act of 1937.
- Section 8 rental assistance vouchers.
- HOME Investment Partnerships for affordable housing development.
- Housing Trust Fund for low-income housing.
- Supportive housing for people with disabilities (Section 811).
- AIDS Housing Opportunities program.
- Native American housing assistance.
- Native Hawaiian housing assistance.
- Rural rental housing programs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill would amend or override current federal housing regulations and lease agreements that might allow bans or restrictions on firearms in these assisted properties. It introduces a uniform federal protection for lawful firearm possession, preventing housing providers from imposing such limits, which could conflict with prior HUD or USDA guidelines emphasizing safety in communal living.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Low-income renters, including families, seniors, people with disabilities, and Native American or rural residents in assisted housing, would gain clearer rights to possess firearms for self-defense or other lawful purposes, potentially increasing personal security but raising safety concerns in shared spaces.
- On Government Agencies: HUD and USDA would need to update program rules, guidance, and enforcement to comply, possibly requiring training for housing staff and revisions to model leases. This could strain resources for monitoring compliance.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic housing policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Residents/Tenants: Primary beneficiaries, particularly those in subsidized housing who rely on federal aid for affordable rentals.
- Housing Authorities and Property Managers: Public housing agencies, nonprofit owners, and private landlords receiving federal funds would face new compliance requirements and potential liability shifts.
- Federal Agencies: HUD and USDA as program administrators, responsible for implementing and overseeing the changes.
- Advocacy Groups: Gun rights organizations (supporting expanded access) and housing or safety advocates (potentially opposing due to community risk concerns).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Reinforces the Second Amendment's protection of the right to bear arms by extending it explicitly to federally subsidized housing, potentially limiting government interference in private possession within one's home. This could invite court challenges if it conflicts with local firearm laws or housing safety standards.
- Legal: May preempt state or local regulations that restrict guns in public or assisted housing, leading to litigation over federal supremacy. It does not alter general firearm laws (e.g., background checks or prohibited persons) but focuses on housing-specific barriers.
- Political: Aligns with pro-Second Amendment priorities, introduced by Republican lawmakers, and could spark debates on balancing tenant rights with community safety in affordable housing programs. If passed, it might influence broader gun policy discussions in social welfare contexts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-04-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Preserving Rights Of Tenants by Ensuring Compliance To the Second Amendment Act — issued 2025-04-17 — PDF (4 pages)