1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

We see what President Trump is doing. While his administration claims to champion Second Amendment rights, his latest policies create a dangerous loophole—one that, with a single impulsive executive order, could be used to mass incarcerate legal gun owners under the guise of “law and order.” The “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative, which mandates that all individuals charged with gun-related offenses be held without bond, has been framed as a necessary step to combat crime. But in reality, this policy opens the door to mass detentions without trial, undermining constitutional protections and due process. Right now, this policy applies to Washington, D.C., but what happens when Trump decides to expand it nationwide? With the stroke of a pen, he could issue an executive order declaring that all gun-related arrests, including technical violations, require pretrial detention. At that moment, every lawful gun owner could be at risk. How This Policy Could Be Used for Mass Arrests • Broad and Vague Gun Charges: A simple paperwork error, carrying in the wrong jurisdiction, or a minor infraction could lead to indefinite detention. • No Bond Means No Due Process: Even if charges are politically motivated or baseless, those accused would have no chance to post bail and could sit in jail for months or years. • Weaponizing the Judiciary: By selectively applying the law, Trump could disarm and detain citizens he deems disloyal while allowing others to walk free. • Expanding Beyond Criminals: If expanded, this law could be used to target political opponents, protestors, and activists, effectively silencing dissent while claiming to uphold safety. Trump has already dismantled DEI programs, removed historical acknowledgments of women and minorities, and purged government agencies of those he sees as disloyal. His willingness to use executive power to reshape policy with no regard for legal precedent or democratic norms is well established. Why should we believe this policy won’t be used the same way? His supporters may think they are safe because of his pro-gun rhetoric, but history shows that authoritarians always turn against their own when it serves their power. Today, it’s D.C. criminals. Tomorrow, it could be every American gun owner who is no longer “loyal enough.” Congress must act now to prevent this dangerous manipulation of gun laws from turning into a full-scale suppression of rights. If the courts fail to challenge this precedent, the next executive order could ensure that the Second Amendment exists in name only—while every gun owner sits in a cell, held without bond. We see what he is doing. The question is, will our lawmakers stop it before it’s too late?