Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, what we are saying here is that the American people have to beg their government to avail themselves of their rights: Oh, Federal Government, can I speak now?

Can I defend myself now, or should I wait a little longer?

That is what we are saying now.

The Constitution says, ``shall not be infringed.'' In Pennsylvania where I come from, our constitution says, ``shall not be questioned.''

Madam Speaker, we are questioning it today. We are putting our constituents and we are putting the American people who have the Constitution enshrining their rights on the defensive, begging their government to avail themselves of their rights.

Now, my colleagues and my good friends on the other side of the aisle keep on bringing up the horrific tragedy and the events that happened at the church. We can't bring that up and say that this is the solution when this doesn't fix that.

Madam Speaker, you can't say that the FBI couldn't check all the databases. It chose not to. It could have checked them in those 3 days, but it chose not to.

Now, those are tragic events for sure, but it is not the American people's fault that the FBI didn't do their job. Do not punish the American people. Do not abridge their rights because the FBI and because the government couldn't get it right. Let's fix the government and allow the people to be free and enjoy their constitutional rights and defend themselves when they want to defend themselves.

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