For Immediate Release

Date: January 8, 2019

Contact: Emilio Navarrete

Emilio.Navarrete@mail.house.gov


Western Caucus Rebukes Introduction of Speaker Pelosi's Gun Control Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, members of the Congressional Western Caucus released statements rebuking the introduction of H.R.8, Speaker Pelosi's gun control bill:

Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04): "It should come as no surprise that Speaker’s Pelosi’s first bill of the Congress attempts to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of the American people. A federal background check would not have prevented the Tucson shooting eight years ago. Further, criminals don’t follow the law, so implementing universal background checks won’t stop criminals from shooting people or obtaining weapons. Besides trampling on the Constitution, the only other thing the Pelosi gun grab would accomplish is to make it tougher for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families. House Democrats’ radical agenda is detached from reality. Fortunately, this bill isn’t even worth the paper it was printed on and if it somehow manages to make it through the House and Senate, I am confident it will get a big red veto stamp from President Trump."

Vice Chairman for Indian Affairs and Oceans Don Young (AK-At Large): "While I appreciate the intent, this legislation will do nothing but restrict law-abiding citizens’ constitutional rights. This bill will not stop mass shootings or reduce gun violence. Instead of further infringing on legal gun owners’ rights, Congress should focus on providing mental health resources and ensuring schools and communities can recognize warning signs."

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01): "It hasn’t taken long for Democrats to attempt to impose their radical ideology on the American people. The ill-conceived notion that universal background checks will improve gun safety has been largely disproven. This bill doesn’t take illegal guns off the streets, instead, it makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens and punishes only those who already follow existing gun regulations. Congress would be better suited by focusing our efforts on improving enforcement of existing laws, not needlessly creating new ones that restrict the American people and bring no real benefit."

Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36): "This legislation is a farce, a roundabout attempt to prevent lawful gun ownership by means of bureaucratic red tape. The premise is based on false, misleading and cherry-picked statistics, and the bill would not prevent criminal gun violence. Instead of seeking to undermine our Second Amendment rights, Democrats should engage in an open and honest debate on preventing criminal access to guns while supporting law enforcement and mental health professionals to determine the root of the problem - not infringing upon the rights of law abiding citizens."

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK-2): "Led by the ever out-of-touch Nancy Pelosi, House Democrats are on a clear mission to legislate away Americans’ constitutional rights—starting with the Second Amendment. Our Founding Fathers gave the American people a constitutional right to bear arms and House Democrats’ only aim is to punish law-abiding Americans. Instead, House Democrats offer the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which does nothing more than overcomplicate the current background process and create an abundance of red tape for Americans who carry or plan to carry. We must treat the real causes of firearm deaths by enforcing laws already on the books, treating mental health, and stopping the emotional desensitization of our children."

Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03): "I am not surprised that Nancy Pelosi and the far left House Democratic Caucus are pushing for more gun control measures right at the very start of the new Congress. Their gun-grabbing efforts are out of touch with the American people and an infringement on our God-given rights. Make no mistake – gun control starts incrementally, and that’s exactly what they are trying to do with this new legislation."

Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05): "The reality of Speaker Pelosi’s legislation is that it will do very little to curb gun violence. If House Democrats were serious about this issue, they would be working with House Republicans on common sense solutions that resolve inefficiencies with our current background check system, instead of attempting to infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens and create a backlog for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This ineffective and inefficient solution is unacceptable and tramples upon individual Second Amendment rights."

Background:
Today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) introduced H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. This legislation is a blatant infringement on the Second Amendment rights of Americans. and will do very little to stem gun violence.

Courtesy of Politifact
Democrat Talking Point of 40% of gun sales occurring on the internet or at gun shows without background checks is heavily exaggerated and inaccurate. The author of the old paper points to the paper published in January as the best estimate available, and it came up with a figure of 22 percent — just over half the percentage in the long-standing talking point. We rate the statement False.
 

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