Sen. Marshall Calls out DOJ for Bribing States to Adopt Red Flag Laws 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Congressman Alex Mooney in leading a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) about their weaponization of The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to illegally fund ineligible “red flag” laws and bribe pro-gun states into passing gun confiscation laws.

Senator Marshall and the 29 members supporting this letter allege that the DOJ violated federal law by funding states with red flag laws that lack comprehensive due process requirements and distributing millions of dollars to states that don’t have red flag laws, including Kansas, to “create and implement extreme risk protection order programs.” The DOJ is pushing money to states without red flag laws to try and work around the state legislatures and push the heavy hand of the federal government on law-abiding gun owners. 

“The Bureau of Justice Assistance must swiftly correct this gross misuse of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act grant programs and instead respect the Second Amendment and due process rights of American citizens,” the Members wrote.

“Furthermore, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’s intent was not to “require or incentivize states to adopt red flag laws.” It is also unlawful to use federal grants to pay for lobbying efforts to influence the adoption of any legislation or law,” the letter continues. 

“Disturbingly, several states and territories without “red flag” laws on the books have been granted funding for the creation and implementation of such programs—including Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, and West Virginia,” the letter said. “It is unclear for what lawful purpose these approved grants could be used.”

“The very statutes enacted by Congress have been completely ignored by the Biden Administration,” the Members wrote. “The Department of Justice appears to be willing to hand out grant money for gun confiscation to any state that applies—whether or not they have enacted “due process” protections or even have a “red flag” law in the first place!”

“Given that Kansas has no “Extreme Risk Protection Order” law, for what lawful purpose did the Bureau of Justice Assistance award $2,698,339 to the Executive Office of the State of Kansas “to create and implement extreme risk protection order programs” in grant 15PBJA-23-GG-00049-BSCI?” The letter to the DOJ asks.

You may click HERE to read Senator Marshall’s full letter.  

Background: 

• The DOJ distributed $2,698,339 to the Executive Office of the State of Kansas “to create and implement extreme risk protection order programs” in grant 15PBJA-23-GG-00049-BSCI.
• Funds distributed as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act enacted in the 117th Congress should only be sent to states with existing red flag laws.
• Twenty-eight of the 30 U.S. states where lawmakers have not passed red-flag laws were awarded a combined $128 million from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Bill. 

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