Hello, Friends —
It was great to be back in Northwest Florida this week! During my Open Gaetz Day, I traveled to Navarre High School to announce my nominations for the U.S. service academies, had a Roundtable discussion with the Navarre Area Board of Realtors, stopped in at Bob Hope Village, and toured both the Aviation Center of Excellence and Crestview Aerospace's facility.
Additionally, I introduced legislation this week to abolish the ATF as they continue to tread on the Constitutional Rights of Americans everywhere.
AROUND THE DISTRICT — OPEN GAETZ DAY
ACADEMY NOMINATIONS
I am proud to have nominated 36 students to our nation’s great service academies at Navarre High School! The two most important jobs I have as a Member of Congress is representing my constituents and nominating students to the United States' service academies. These students represent the very best of our district and the entire country.
Furthermore, this group of bright individuals constitutes the next generation of our military leaders. It is a true honor to be part of their journey as they continue to learn how to best serve the United States of America.
REP. GAETZ JOINS ROUNDTABLE WITH NAVARRE AREA BOARD OF REALTORS
The housing market in Northwest Florida is always important to monitor, whether it's military housing allowances, increased prices linked to housing demand, or inflation-driven problems owed to Democrats in Washington. I engaged in a discussion with the Navarre Area Board of Realtors, addressing the factors affecting the housing market in Florida's First District. Northwest Floridians' input is extremely important as I navigate the growing possibility of tumultuous markets this year and seek what can be done to help. I will continue to push back against the Democrats' spending agenda in Washington, D.C., with your concerns in mind. The era of exorbitant spending during the Biden presidency is over.
BOB HOPE VILLAGE
I really enjoyed engaging with my constituents at Bob Hope Village during my Open Gaetz Day. Our discussions specifically touched on the Republican agenda in the 118th Congress, including what we plan to accomplish. I was thrilled to answer everyone's thoughtful questions and even got to play a few rounds of Wii bowling. I am looking forward to my next visit to Bob Hope Village!
AVIATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
It was an honor to tour the Aviation Center of Excellence with Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Northwest Florida State College, and Dr. Paul Hsu, the founder of the HSU Educational Foundation. It was exciting to see where the next generation of aviation operators will be trained at their facilities. I look forward to working with them to maintain our technological edge over China!
CONGRESSMAN GAETZ TOURS CRESTVIEW AEROSPACE FACILITY
Thank you, Crestview Aerospace, for a tour of your facility! Our discussion focused on Crestview Aerospace's contributions to the military mission in our district and how they’ll be contributing for years to come. I enjoyed all of my stops during my Open Gaetz Day and am eager for the next one!
NEW REP. GAETZ BILL WOULD ABOLISH THE ATF
As long as I represent the First Congressional District of Florida in Congress, I will always fight to protect your Second Amendment rights. Recently, the ATF issued a rule that will force pistol brace owners to register their pistols as short barrel rifles with the federal government or face up to 10 years in jail, in addition to a potential $10,000 fine. The ATF abuses its rulemaking authority by creating arbitrary classes of firearms subject to arbitrary regulations. This includes barrel length, the existence of a stock, foregrip, sight, or stabilizing brace, and in doing so, creates felons out of law-abiding Americans.
The ATF cannot be reformed. A Republican executive branch can’t convert it into an ally. It exists, and will always exist, to infringe upon your 2nd Amendment rights. The continued existence of the ATF is an assault on your right to bear arms, and I’m working to bring it to an end.
That is why I introduced the "Abolish the ATF Act" after the agency's rule against stabilizing braces. The continued existence of the ATF is increasingly unwarranted based on their repeated actions to convert law-abiding citizens into felons. My bill would abolish the ATF once and for all, so you can continue to enjoy your freedom as an American.
Click Here to Read the Bill!
REP. GAETZ JOINS FOX NEWS TO DISCUSS JOE BIDEN'S CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
 Click Here to Watch!
As the Joe Biden secret document saga continues, I joined Laura Ingraham on Fox News last night to discuss. While this scandalous situation continues to develop, it’s important to remember that things in Washington aren't always what they seem. Consider this — it was Joe Biden's personal Democrat lawyer that was rummaging around his stuff and looking for what evidence of a crime his client had committed nine years ago. Then, he alerts the Democrats' staff at the White House, which is the absolute worst thing you could possibly do in that situation.
They sat on the information—which should have been used to diffuse the Trump documents situation—and then inoculated themselves in the process before it was leaked to CBS.
Now, consider the Biden Department of Justice-appointed Special Counsel who could be investigating Joe Biden himself. The big tell of this operation is that even Joe Biden's strongest allies in Congress, including Senator Coons (DE), are saying that they approve of the appointment of a Special Counsel to criminally investigate the president. Maybe the deep state and a lot of these Democrats have figured out that they'd rather roll with Gavin Newsom than Joe Biden. The Republicans might not even have to help the Democrats take out their trash.
REP. GAETZ: 'I WILL NOT REST UNTIL EVERY CAREER IMPACTED IS RESTORED'
Recently, there has been news that the Pentagon is considering providing back pay to former service members who were discharged for refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Thankfully, the Pentagon officially reversed the vaccine mandate for troops on January 10th. Now, public discussion has finally shifted to the honorable men and women serving our country who have had their careers destroyed by authoritarian government policy. It is time for servicemembers to not only have their rank restored, but to receive back pay for the time they spent without pay while they were prohibited from serving our country.
As I’ve said on Firebrand before, Joe Biden has been doing everything in his power to purge our military who have independent thoughts, religious exemptions, or medical exemptions regarding vaccines. Our military has faced retaliation, expulsion, coercion, and even dishonorable discharge thanks to politicians who don’t believe in freedom. While the Pentagon is slow-walking the process of avenging our military men and women, I will continue to fight for you because I cherish and respect the sacrifice you make for the United States of America! The fight for justice is not over.
Click Here to Watch Firebrand (feat. Active Duty Servicemembers)!
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Liberty Headlines — January 20, 2023
Matt Gaetz Moves to Abolish the ATF in Response to Controversial New Regulation
"Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced legislation Wednesday that would abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms immediately after the bill’s enactment. Gaetz’s legislation follows a controversial rule the ATF introduced last week that requires owners of guns with stabilizing braces to destroy, reconfigure, register, or turn in their firearms to ATF within 120 days."
Fox News — January 19, 2023
Matt Gaetz says classified doc scandal ‘feels like the Democrats are taking out Joe Biden’
"Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., hypothesized that the classified documents scandal surrounding President Joe Biden is being fueled by Democrats who are ready to give the flailing president the hook. 'There's an element to this that feels like the Democrats are taking out Joe Biden,' Gaetz told Fox News Digital on Wednesday."
WEAR Pensacola — January 16, 2023
‘The VA Same Day Scheduling Act’ aims to improve veterans’ experience with VA
"A bill co-sponsored by Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz aims to improve veterans' experience with the VA. "The VA Same Day Scheduling Act" requires the agency to schedule an appointment while on the phone with patients."
Breitbart News — January 14, 2023
‘Bravo, Speaker McCarthy’ – ‘Fulfilling the Commitment He Made to Us’
"Friday on FNC’s 'Tucker Carlson Tonight,' Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) praised newly elected Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for living up to the promises he made during the tumultuous four-day-long House Speaker elections last week."
WHAT WE'RE READING
The Washington Times — January 20, 2023
States cut grocery taxes to relieve rampant food inflation
Politico — January 20, 2023
D.C. Mayor to Biden: Your Teleworking Employees Are Killing My City
Fox News — January 19, 2023
US diverted weapons from South Korea to Ukraine
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