#25 – Firearms

Our Founding Fathers understood the importance of sensible gun regulation.  It is ironic that the Congressman Carter, who is a former judge and legal scholar, ignores the actual content of the second amendment: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”  Note the words “regulated” and “necessary to the security”; these are vital words in that amendment.  These important parts are meant to ensure our security and safety. 

The Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) addressed one of the primary issues raised by the 9/11 Commission Report. The Commission found that security agencies were unable to share threat information in a timely and effective manner. The TSDB ensures timely dissemination of terrorist information to these agencies. The No Fly List is a subset of the TSDB that prohibits those who would be a threat to aviation.  The “no fly no buy” proposal is a simple and common-sense piece of legislation that is crucial to protecting our citizens on airplanes and what most Americans want passed.  There are many layers of review and research before a name is placed on that list, yet Carter continues to oppose these measures even though it would help make us more safe and not infringe on the second amendment.

Safety, training, and enforcement are key parts of our national morals when it comes to gun ownership. Safety and training ensures that your spouse and children do not become another accidental shooting statistic.  Enforcement means that criminals and terrorists cannot buy a gun the same way everyday law-abiding citizens can.  There are about 75,000 accidental gun shootings every year.  Many are self-inflicted.  Some of those are children. Congressman Carter has ignored the advice and recommendation from our own law enforcement people and undercuts the value of training and safety programs.  That has made us less safe and has cost lives.  Carter’s actions only favor the voice of the National Rifle Association (NRA). We all know the NRA has become less about safety for hunters and more of an advertising tool for gun manufacturers.  Universal background checks will close loopholes from those who would do us harm while having ZERO impact on our second amendment rights.   These are beneficial actions that Congress should make happen today!

​Gun violence costs us taxpayers at least half a billion dollars in hospital costs alone every year.  This is very real!  Without clear minds in Congress, we will continue to be at risk and less safe. Congressman Clark will be there for you!