Arizona Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) released a statement opposing a new gun restriction House Rule (HR) that passed through the U.S. House yesterday, calling it “unconstitutional.”
“It didn’t take long for Joe Biden and House democrats to use the tragedies in Buffalo and Texas to push for more gun control measures. They blatantly disparage our God-given and constitutionally protected right to self-defense. As crime rises to record levels across our country, thanks to Democrat socialists who run our major cities, self-defense is more important than ever. In Washington, D.C., the democrats suggest with a straight face that if it wasn’t for a gun, these murderers would be well-adjusted individuals. Millions and millions of people are law-abiding gun owners, knife owners and car owners. If a knife, car or gun is used in a crime, it is the person using those tools that should be prosecuted for their actions. Punishing law abiding gun owners is nonsensical and I won’t stand for it,” Gosar said.
Gosar argued that a better plan of action is to harden school security. He mentioned a bill he proposed which aims to repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990.
“Today’s vote on these sweeping, authoritarian gun control laws are a betrayal to the Constitution and an assault on the rights and liberties of law-abiding gun owners and that is why I voted against it. Congress should be focusing on school safety and mental health, not gun control,” said Gosar, concluding his statement.
Gosar is not the only Arizona representative who slammed the bill. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) also released a statement opposing HR 7910.
“I unequivocally condemn the recent shootings that have occurred throughout our country,” Biggs said. “But it’s inappropriate for Democrats to use the heightened emotions of a grieving nation to push through a radical, anti-Second Amendment agenda.”
Biggs contended that the root cause of violence is not something the federal government can easily fix.
“The public will not be safer under new gun control laws – the lawlessness in Democrat-run cities is a prime example of that fallacy. What will make the public safer, especially in our schools, is repealing laws that create gun-free zones, ensuring that there are armed school resource officers in schools to protect students, and improving the physical security of schools,” Biggs said. “I will not stand by while Democrats infringe a God-given, constitutionally protected right by lying to the American people.”
Arizona Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) tweeted several responses to the house passing HR 7910.
“Democrats’ radical gun control agenda won’t make any of us safer. Their legislation would NOT help prevent mass shootings and violence but WOULD instead infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” tweeted Lesko.
Democrats’ radical gun control agenda won’t make any of us safer. Their legislation would NOT help prevent mass shootings and violence but WOULD instead infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights!
— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) June 8, 2022
Instead of having Democrats and Republicans work together to come up with bipartisan solutions to violence, Democrats want a “my way or the highway” approach by forcing their radical gun control agenda through the House.
— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) June 8, 2022
HR 7910, also known as the Protect Our Kids Act, passed the house with 223 votes in favor. All Republican representatives from Arizona voted against the bill.
If the bill were to become law, it would raise the minimum age to buy semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to 21, crack down on gun trafficking, require that all firearms be traceable, and close the bump-stock loophole, amongst other changes.
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Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rep. Paul Gosar” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0.
