Rep. Budd Speaks Out Against House Democrats' Gun Control Bills

Press Release

Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) spoke twice on the House floor in opposition to a pair of bills (H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446) before the House today that would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of millions of Americans.

Text of Rep. Budd's speech on March 9 reads, in part:

As a federally-licensed gun store owner, I have a unique perspective on our Second Amendment rights and I know how background checks actually work.

H.R. 8 is being sold as "universal background checks." It would impose harsh penalties like six-figure fines and jail time for the simple act of handing a firearm to another person, even for temporary use.

The exemptions under H.R. 8 are woefully inadequate to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Let's say you loan your firearm to a victim of domestic violence because their abuser is being released from jail; or if a suicidal friend asks you to take possession of their firearm; or if you loan your cousin your gun after a series of burglaries in their neighborhood.

These new transfer penalties would turn law-abiding Americans into criminals.

Text of Rep. Budd's speech on March 10 reads, in part:

The fundamental truth is that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms to protect themselves and their loved ones.

America's founders spoke on this issue extensively. Benjamin Franklin warned that, "those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

He was right. The American tradition of self-reliance, self-determination, and self defense has been fierce. It's been what makes this country so exceptional and so great.

Today, the House will vote on legislation that would undermine this right. What's worse, both of these bills would not have prevented recent mass shooting tragedies across the nation. In those awful events, the criminals either passed a background check or stole their weapons.

We cannot sacrifice our rights by passing laws that will make our families less safe, and that criminals will ignore. We must always protect and preserve our God-given Second Amendment rights.

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