Opinion
Washington, DC – -(AmmoLand.com)- So, you think the GOP Senate will stop the Democratic House’s gun control…
Since the Democrats have won control of the House of Representatives, we know that either California Representative Nancy Pelosi or another anti-gunner will be Speaker of the House.
And with the Democrats in power, they have renewed their calls for gun control. In fact, they are planning one of the most aggressive pushes for gun control in years.
Nonetheless, since Republicans strengthened their majority in the Senate, many gun owners are still confident this “red wall” will block all of Pelosi’s gun control.
But is this really the case? Sadly, this “red wall” maybe more porous than one might think. First, consider that in the 115th Congress, with GOP control of both chambers, Congressional Republican leaders gave gun owners crumbs while passing a massive background check expansion bill.
Overall, it could be argued that the Second Amendment suffered under the Republican leadership, especially when President Donald Trump’s pending bump stock ban is considered.
So if the Second Amendment took a “net-loss” with complete Republican control, why should gun owners be so optimistic that the Senate will buck all the House’s gun control?
Second, there are simply some gun control measures that certain Republicans support. Consider so-called “red flag proposals,” which allow for an ex parte hearing to confiscate one’s guns.
Not only do such proposals completely disregard due process, they have even turned out to be deadly.
However, these proposals have the support of certain Republicans across the country. At the state level, the Republican-controlled Florida legislature passed a red flag law as part of a gun control package after the Parkland shooting. Even in deep-red, pro-gun Texas, there was a tough battle over a red flag proposal. Additionally, red flag laws have been signed by Republican governors in Maryland, Illinois and Massachusetts.
In the Senate, Republicans such as Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, and Susan Collins have introduced or cosponsored red flag legislation. Also, President Trump has loudly stated support for “taking the gun first, due process later.” This Republican support, along with praise from Democrats, make a red flag proposal a dangerous threat the Second Amendment in Congress.
So, will the Republican Senate stop all of the Pelosi’s gun control?
The answer will likely be determined by how vocal gun owners are. An additional ray of hope is that there are still pro-gun Republicans in the Senate, such as Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Mike Lee, among others.
It’s said that no one’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session — and that’s true no matter which party is in charge. That’s why gun owners must be vocal and active in the fight for the Second Amendment.
Jordan Stein is the Director of Communications for Gun Owners of America (GOA), a grassroots organization representing more than 1.5 million gun owners. He can be followed on Twitter at @jordankstein.
About Gun Owners of America
Erich Pratt, or another GOA spokesman, is available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over 1.5 million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Newsroom.
“Why do the American people allow elected officials to break the oath of office (Which is a federal crime) and not hold them accountable?
Whether you have a bump stock or not, the fact that it is on the table for being banned, once this accessory is banned, the leftist will have an easier ban event the next time, like AR ban! Give them an inch, they’ll take it all! Remember, it’s not about the “kids”, it’s about people control.
Does Hitler, Jews, 1930s, gas chambers disguised as showers, gun confiscation bring back history class memories?
U.S. Congressman and Senators take an oath to uphold and preserve the Federal Constitution. Persons of little character, or honor disobey their oath. Deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution, or laws of the United States, is a Federal Crime. It would be interesting to hear where these oath breakers think that their expanded powers have come from. Maybe it’s time to remind these elected officials, that Government was not to exercise any power not delegated to it by the Constitution. Any person advocating gun control, gun registration, etc., of law abiding citizens, does… Read more »
If voting made a difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.
I believe either Mark Twain or George Carlin. What matters is not who votes, what makes is who counts them. Joe Stalin, the most underrated mass murderer of all times, except in the history books used in the masters schools, right here in the good old U.S. of A. -30-
Bumpstock bans are constitutional (stupid, yes) but its not a direct 2nd Amendment violation.
Stupid because if someone wants one bad enough, they can use a stick, their finger, or, if they’re mechanically inclined, fabricate their own bumpstock at home.
I’m more concerned with the red flag. Ignoring due process is dangerous.
Further, who’s calling this red flag? who decides when someone should have their firearms confiscated?
If no crime is being commited and there is no reasonable doubt that a crime is planned, there is no right to confiscate anything. especially without due process.
As an enthusiastic 2nd amendment supporter – a “gun nut” – I fail to see why the last congress was a “net loss” for the 2nd amendment. The author gave as his reason “Trump’s bump stock ban”. A bump stock id designed to make a semi auto rifle mimic a machine gun. The left is targeting semi auto rifles, which I think is ridiculous, but when someone invented the bump stock the idea was to do and end run around the NFA, making a semi auto rifle effectively into a fully automatic rifle without BEING a machine gun. In my… Read more »