 Fellow Conservative, You may have read about this – it's been all
over the news. Today, I sat down with Hollywood actress and “progressive activist” Alyssa Milano to have a one-on-one discussion
on the issue of ending violent gun crime while protecting the Second Amendment. So, what prompted this meeting? It was all born of a conversation over
Twitter. When she accused certain lawmakers of being “owned by the gun lobby,” and asking someone to “cite which
passage of the Bible God states it is a God-given right to own a gun,” I had to respond. I reminded her that it is, of course, not necessarily
the right to a modern-day firearm that is God-given – but rather the right to Life and the right to Liberty. As I stated on Twitter,
“Essential to that right to life is the right to DEFEND your life & your family.” I also pointed out that the right to self-defense is
recognized repeatedly in the Bible, (e.g. Exodus 22:2), as well as in our nation’s Declaration of Independence. Fellow Conservative, I am eager to meet with
people who disagree with me on these fundamental issues of freedom and the Constitution, and I believe it is crucial for our nation that we all do
so. I
often find that when we take social media spectacle and over-the-top rhetoric out of the equation – and focus on the merits of these issues
– we can find a lot more common ground than we thought possible. If all of us can come together to have more positive, civil discussions,
we can change hearts and minds. And this will go a long way toward helping unite and heal our divided nation. And when it comes to the important issue that is stopping violent gun crime, as I’ve said many times before, the simple fact is, we need criminal control – NOT “gun control” – to stop the violence that is plaguing our nation. Felons and fugitives who illegally attempt to purchase guns are being prosecuted at levels so low that it’s pathetic. I am fighting to change that. Records that would prevent individuals from purchasing firearms are not making their way into databases that a background check would flag. More background checks do no good if they don’t stop people who are prohibited from owning firearms from getting them. I am fighting to change that. These are just a couple common-sense solutions we can and should start with to prevent violent criminals who should not have
guns from getting their hands on them -- as opposed to seemingly endless proposals that strip law-abiding Americans of their Constitutional rights. If you agree that we must do ALL we can to end violent gun crime, while defending the Second Amendment – and work not just to argue our points, but to change hearts and minds – then I hope you’ll do the same in your own life, and support our work as we keep up the fight in Texas and across America. For liberty,
Ted Cruz
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