Late yesterday evening, the U.S. Senate released one of the most radical gun control proposals seen in the chamber in the last thirty years. The Senate voted 64 to 34 to advance the bill mere hours after it was introduced, and final passage within the coming days is all but certain.
The 80 – page gun bill is costly and goes too far in its proposals.
While the legislation does include some rational measures, the restrictions on law-abiding citizens are too great.
The two most glaring violations of Second Amendment rights are the expanded background checks on would-be purchasers between the ages of 18 and 21 and the millions of dollars in funding that states would be provided with to enforce “red flag laws.”
Would-be buyers in the 18-21 age group could be subject to a waiting period of up to 10 business days – potentially up to two whole calendar weeks – before being able to purchase a firearm.
Through funding provided by Byrne JAG grants, states will be given additional dollars to support “extreme risk protection orders” (ERPO’s). Those orders – known colloquially as “red flag laws” – temporarily require a person to surrender their firearms to law enforcement officials and also do not allow individuals to purchase or possess firearms or ammunition.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) issued a statement opposing these proposals ahead of last night’s vote.
“This legislation can be abused to restrict lawful gun purchases, infringe upon the rights of law-abiding Americans, and use federal dollars to fund gun control measures being adopted by state and local politicians. This bill leaves too much discretion in the hands of government officials and also contains undefined and overbroad provisions – inviting interference with our constitutional freedoms.”
When Senators take their oath of office, they promise to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Last night, the 64 Senators who voted for the bill failed to do that. The bill is a clear violation of Second, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Four Republican Senators who voted for the bill without promising to do so beforehand were the following: Joni Ernst (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Todd Young (R-IN)
Ten Republican senators had already pledged their support for the legislation based on a “framework” of ideas released last week, so their affirmative votes were less of a surprise, albeit disappointing.
Those senators – whom I have called out previously for supporting this legislation – are Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Mitt Romney (R-UT).
Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania was not present to vote last night but has also indicated support for the legislation, bringing the total number of the bill’s Republican backers to 15.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Victoria Snitsar Churchill is a proud immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen with a decade of experience in grassroots politics and community organizing.
Her writing has been featured in many online publications, including Campus Reform, The Daily Torch and The Daily Signal.
As an undergraduate at the University of Kansas, Victoria appeared in media outlets such as CBS News, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, The Blaze and NRATV.
Victoria is also a former NCAA D1 student-athlete and Kansas College Republicans State Chair.
After moving eleven times in six years, Victoria resides in Arlington, Virginia and enjoys overpriced brunch on Sundays with her husband.
You are a bunch of traitors to America. Get OUT of Congress
The Republican Party is going to sell out the law abiding gun owner to the liberal Commie Democrats. The GOP will also sell out Americans when it comes to illegal immigration. The two RINO’s McCarthy and Beijing Mitch have no intentions of impeaching Lying Corrupt Quid Pro KING Joe, So one has to ask themselves, why should I be bothered to vote? Every time the Republicans get into office during the midterms they turn out to be a bunch of deadbeats.
Every one needs to be sure to vote the democrats and these RINOS out of office. They should be tarred and feathered and run out of C!
Can’t wait for one of you to send me emails or txts for my support!!!!!! Your ALL F’d and I will literally call your office and cuss you out if you keep sending me emails or txts when I tell you to STOP!
This is WHY WE NEED TO VOTE THESE PARASITES OUT!!! Can’t wait for one of you to send me emails or txts for my support!!!!!! Your ALL F’d and I will literally call your office and cuss you out if you keep sending me emails or txts when I tell you to STOP!
Get the Communist out of our Government. Since they support taking away, lets start with their private security. No more do we pay for them!!
EVERYTHING this admiistration and congress do is against the American citizen and our Constitution. All and I mean every stinking one of them need to be ousted ASAP !!!!! They are a total disgrace to America. It has become very clear the American voters need to deeply research candidates instead of just listening to their rhetoric and doing a quick scan of what they supposedly all about. We have to start looking into all their history and see what jumps out and then we will know if we are dealing with a phony or not. At least some knowledge is better than none.
This is MUCH better than Libs were trying to get. I have absolutely no problem having 18-21 year-olds waiting 1-2 weeks for their juvenile records to be searched because it could prevent yet another unstable kid from getting a gun – or acting rashly. The red flag laws have already been ruled unconstitutional by the SC within the last several years – so if they are abused they will be tossed out. Anyone vindictively and unjustifiably using red flag laws need to face SERIOUS penalties – including prison time.
This is another step by the Deep State Cabal toward Civilian Disarmament! Once they have us disarmed, we will not be able to protect ourselves from them as the founding father’s intended. Everyone who voted for this can GTH!
COSTLY – In November. How many can be recalled?
What a sad day in America! The Rino Republicans seem to think that they are put in Congress to compromise with the Left. I’ve been around three quarters of a century & can count on one hand the number of times that the Democrat Left has “compromised” with the pro American way of thinking. It’s so sad!
Forty pieces of silver. They took an oath to defend the constitution. I guess that oath meant nothing. November!!!!!
“Four Republican Senators who voted for the bill without promising to do so beforehand were the following: Joni Ernst (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Todd Young (R-IN)
“Ten Republican senators had already pledged their support for the legislation based on a “framework” of ideas released last week … Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Mitt Romney (R-UT).”
At least most of these losers are washed-up “ne’er-do-wells” whose days in Congress are numbered. Their constituents should know enough to bring them home permanently since the few $$ favors they bring home as “bacon” don’t justify keeping them feeding at the Congressional trough.
14 RINOs blocked freedom
This is what we get when we don’t have term limits and these people stay in office for decades, making themselves wealthy. We don’t need a law limiting how long a senator or rep can stay in office, all we need are our votes. The trouble is that now there are so many people living off the taxpayers, and those elected officials keep the freebies coming so they get those people’s votes. I served my country for 26 years and I am saddened to see what we have become. I’m so glad that I’m old so hopefully I won’t see the total destruction of this once great nation.
This should come as no surprise. _NO_ politicians want an armed populace. As soon as it’s perceived safe to do so, they will _all_ vote to disarm “we, the people.” To act as the ultimate control over tyranny is the reason the 2nd. Amendment was put in place to begin with and no politician wants to have that power removed from their grasp. Currently, Republicans believe the Dimocrats are so roundly condemned, “we, the people” have no choice but to vote for Republicans, so have done what politicians do, i.e., ignore their oaths to consolidate their own lust for power.
The Republican Party is going to sell out the law abiding gun owner to the liberal Commie Democrats. The GOP will also sell out Americans when it comes to illegal immigration. The two RINO’s McCarthy and Beijing Mitch have no intentions of impeaching Lying Corrupt Quid Pro KING Joe, So one has to ask themselves, why should I be bothered to vote? Every time the Republicans get into office during the midterms they turn out to be a bunch of deadbeats.
So why do we sit on our duffs? “The bill is a clear violation of Second, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.” What we need to do is IMPEACH all of the traitors for their dereliction of duty and violation of their oath of office. Start the petitions for getting them out of office. NOW! Don’t wait for the corrupted voting process to sort things out. DO IT NOW! None of these peopple are in my state, but if they are in yours, it is perfectly possible and permissible to throw them out of office and even try them for treason. Thinkdeep.
you are all traitors & most of you are antique & need to get out of office/ too
many old RHINOS. You ruin our rights. We will make sure you do not get into
office. We hate all of you especiall mc connell & graham & murkowski &
romney & toomey/all liars and traitors
I have been pushing for term limits. We need it. Vote in for term limits so we
can easily get rid of rhinos & liars. None of you are for the American people you
are just dems & weak weak weak. We need strong republicans that are willing to stand up to the left and speak the truth instead of being like the “circle back”