Jeff Knox calls on Republicans to pass bill, show Americans they’re serious about gun rights
By Jeff Knox
Buckeye, AZ -(AmmoLand.com)- As the Presidential primaries continue to unravel in the news, it seems that the main concern of Republican leaders in D.C. and around the country is stopping Donald Trump from becoming the party’s official standard bearer in November.
What they should be focused on is what has happened in this country to shift the political paradigm so dramatically that a populist outsider like Trump could be dominating the primary process, and what that means for the party’s future. If Republicans want to win the presidency – or any other offices – they need to be working to earn trust and votes, not simply tearing down Trump.
That means they need to be doing things to show voters that there are clear distinctions between the parties and the candidates, and they need demonstrate to their core constituency that they are actually listening to them, not just the donor class. And that means going beyond promises to actually moving legislation, holding hearings, and taking votes.
For instance, Democrats have made gun control a central theme of their campaigns this year, so Republicans need to capitalize on that by demonstrating their commitment to individual rights.
They could easily do that by bringing Rob Bishop’s (R-UT) “Lawful Purpose and Self Defense Act,” H.R.2710, to the floor for a vote. It’s a gun control reform that removes some of the bureaucratic power over firearm imports and sales. There’s no way that Obama would ever sign it, but that’s not the objective. While we would like to see the bill passed and enacted, its more important purpose this year would be to activate GunVoters, point up distinctions between R’s and D’s, give presidential candidates something to campaign on, force Obama to take a stand, and demonstrate to an important segment of the Republican base that their politicians are actually listening and responsive to them. All of these things are beneficial to Republicans and harmful to Democrats this election year. Votes on bills like H.R.2710 are ammunition in election season and it’s foolish of Republicans to deny that ammunition to our activists.
The rise of Trump did not happen in a vacuum, but rather due to a vacuum – a vacuum of leadership and responsiveness on the part of Republican Party bosses and elected politicians.
For decades a large percentage of Republican voters have been calling – and voting – for a return to constitutional principles, the rule of law, lower taxes, smaller government, less interference from Washington, and more local control.
Meanwhile, their leaders and elected representatives have arrogantly marched on with business as usual: bigger government, higher taxes, more bureaucratic control, and virtually no effort at all to live up to campaign promises.
The Republican Party is coming apart at the seams, but that’s not a result of a tough-talking real estate mogul turned reality TV star turned politician. Trump is just a symptom of a much bigger problem. The rise of Trump is a result of Republicans failing to give their constituents what they want – or even making a show of trying to do so.
From George H.W. Bush declaring; “Read my lips: No New Taxes,” then signing new taxes into law, to Republicans promising to repeal Obamacare if voters gave them control of Congress – only to waffle and offer excuses as to why they can’t actually accomplish that – and won’t even try – after voters have given them control of both houses.
The GOP leadership offers the excuse that even though they control the House and Senate, unless they control the White House, they’re just spinning their wheels and wasting “political capital.” That’s foolish. While voters want to see Obamacare repealed, what they want more than that is to see Republicans making a genuine effort to do so. They want to see votes on the floor for a repeal bill. They want to see the people they elected taking actions to keep the promises they made to get elected. They want record votes so they know who really stands with them and who is just offering lip service.
Republicans are stymied by disagreements within their ranks over details of a comprehensive immigration bill, but what’s stopping them from moving forward with the provisions that they do agree on? They rail about the evils of Obamacare, but instead of taking action to repeal the law, they approve temporary implementation delays, easing the burden and the pain caused by the legislation, letting it become more firmly established, and mitigating the negative effects that would translate to votes for them and support for repeal. They pledge fealty to the Second Amendment, but consider holding the line on the status quo sufficient to placate GunVoters. These are not winning strategies. This is not what voters and activists have been demanding. This is all just a really good way to convince the people who want to support them that there is no point in it, and that they might as well go hunting on election day because it doesn’t matter who wins, we the people lose.
For GunVoters, the issue is Second Amendment rights, and the best bill currently sitting on a shelf in Congress to show us that politicians are serious about Second Amendment Rights is H.R.2710, the Lawful Purpose and Self Defense Act, which currently has 102 cosponsors in the House – all of them Republicans.
We know that Obama would never sign it, and we know that supporters in the Senate might not have enough votes to beat a filibuster, but we want proof of where politicians stand. We want ammo to use to fire up our troops, shoot at our opponents, and support our allies. We want Republicans to take a stand on our behalf, to prove that they’re listening, and to lay the groundwork for a future victory.
Republicans need to stop working so hard to stop Trump, and instead start focusing on winning voters. To do that, they need to start giving us what we want: action, votes, ammunition.
About the Firearms Coalition:
The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists in the form of education, analysis of current issues, and with a historical perspective of the gun rights movement. The Firearms Coalition is a project of Neal Knox Associates, Manassas, VA.
For more information, visit: www.FirearmsCoalition.org.
You want term limits…support the only part of our Constitution that will allow this to happen, an Article V Convention of States, since the people in power will never give it up willingly:
http://www.conventionofstates.com
Big government begets bigger government. We already have EXCESSIVE GOVERNMENT and they only want to grow more. The VA alone has 400,000 employees and FAILS MISERABLY.
Why do I feel less “safe” today than I did in 1996? 1973?
STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES
We have term limits its called ELECTIONS every 2 years
They are not forcing you to vote for them over and over.
But the answer is not a Northeast DEMOCRAT pretending to
be a REPUBLICAN.
“We have term limits its called ELECTIONS every 2 years
They are not forcing you to vote for them over and over.”
This is true, however, our votes are bought and paid for, witness the millions being spent on this election cycle. It’s not about the issues or what’s best for the country, it’s all about the money; follow the money. The establishment doesn’t want the status quo to change, they like the gravy train they are on.
Good luck in getting republicans to take their heads out and see the sun. They are so stupid they can’t even point at all the unconstitutional activities and illegal activities by lying, nasty Mrs. Clinton as a democrat. Democrat – defined by me as primarily liars, cheats, thieves, traitors – especially the muslim trash in the White House and administration. Democrat should be the primary dirty word, not Clinton or Obama, etc. But Republicans are too stupid to realize that just like they are too stupid to understand why Trump has been succeeding. Maybe they don’t deserve the Presidency. But… Read more »
You’re an idiot
What is stated here is exactly why we need term limits in this country for the house and senate, so the dead wood can be cycled out before it can do any real harm. 1 term for senators (6 years) and 3 for the house (same 6 years). This should also crush the lobbyists as well because of the turnover.
Term limits are already enshrined in our Constitution. They are called ‘elections’ and are held on a regular basis. The REAL problem is most Americans won’t even get off their collective fat azzes to REGISTER to vote, much less cast a ballot. ‘We have met the enemy and he is us’ – Pogo.