This past week, the House voted on H.R. 7910 and H.R. 2377. In all, the first bill was composed of seven smaller bills that were never considered in a committee markup or hearing. The Speaker had us vote on all seven provisions individually. I voted no on the first six provisions and yes on the seventh, which would provide in-depth data on the effectiveness of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Some of the main provisions of H.R. 7910 include increasing the age requirements for obtaining a firearm from 18 to 21, as well as several gun storage laws. Many of my colleagues insist on lowering the voting age to 16, sending 18-year-olds to war, and letting 5-year-olds change their gender, but do not want 20-year-olds to have a right to defend themselves. It seems as though there is widespread disagreement on what age deems someone responsible to make big decisions. I also have concerns with the proposed storage laws because they prevent firearms from being easily accessible during a home invasion or in the event of immediate danger. Many folks own firearms to protect themselves and defend their homes and loved ones, making storage laws completely counter-productive.
Lastly, we voted on H.R. 2377, which is a red flag law. I find that many red flag laws conflict with the constitutional idea that you are innocent until proven guilty. The red flag law proposed this week takes away firearms from an individual for anywhere between 14 to 180 days with possible renewals. That means someone could lose their only source of protection for months at a time solely because someone filed a petition claiming they could be a danger to themselves or someone else. While I like to believe someone filing a petition is well-intentioned, that might not always be the case. Look at the exploitation we’ve seen recently with conservatorships – federal systems designed to have rights taken away “temporarily” often lead to abuse. This bill eliminates due process and other constitutional rights by seizing firearms without giving the accused a chance to be heard in court first.
None of these bills shine a light on mental health issues, require a stronger response to violent crimes, or include school security measures that would create a safer environment for our children. These pieces of legislation attack responsible gun owners. We should hold a hearing and gather better data on existing gun laws. We can then utilize that insight to legislate more effectively rather than enact an emotional response which will almost certainly have unintended consequences. I have always supported a stronger database for background checks, and I voted again this week to improve our NICS system. Before we strip Second Amendment rights from the law-abiding, let’s actually enforce the gun laws we have now and incarcerate felons who use firearms. Congress should be working to find effective and multifaceted solutions by having bipartisan discussion and hearings. We cannot afford to get this wrong.
