New citizens don’t have to say ‘bear arms’ in oath anymore
Phoenix, AZ — People who want to be part of this country no longer have to promise to “fight” for it. New U.S. citizens always take a sworn oath to “bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law.” But as of this week, they don’t have to say that anymore.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is actually seeking public feedback on this so-called modification to a vital part of the naturalization process – The United States Oath of Allegiance, which new citizens have been reciting since 1778.
Way back in 1906, lawmakers added this promise to that oath of allegiance: “A candidate for citizenship must declare they will bear arms on behalf of the United States and that they will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces if required by law.”
“As part of your oath to become an American, it is a quintessential statement you make to join this community,” said Alan Korwin, nationally-known expert on gun laws. He runs a website called GunLaws.com.
Seemingly without much involvement from Congress, the Obama administration on Tuesday deleted those two “promises” from the oath.
“Without the consent of Congress, it seems, almost to me, a tyrannical use of power,” Korwin added.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says the prospective citizen must show that he or she has a religious belief or conscientious objection in order to be excluded from making those two promises.
“There are certain religious beliefs where people are strictly committed to non-violence,” explained Court Rich, an attorney with Scottsdale-based Rose Law Group.
Be that as it may, Korwin thinks it’s an affront to history.
“It’s taken one of the most key elements of the Constitution and life in America out,” he said.
No one with U.S. CIS got back to us about why the agency and the Obama administration felt the change was necessary, but Rich offered a possible explanation.
“They are trying to give them the option that full-time citizens have had all along.”
Citizenship and Immigration Services is taking public comment on this modification to the oath of allegiance, but there’s not much time. That feedback has to be submitted online by Aug. 4.