Democrats are at it again, taking advantage of a “good crisis,” to attack the Second Amendment. While most people realize that it is not in anyone’s best interests to make hasty decisions while under emotional influence, that is not stopping the latest gun control efforts. Specifically, the recent H.R.7910 legislation that just passed the House. The so-called “Protecting Our Kids Act” does little to protect children and more to weaken our Second Amendment rights.
The ”Protecting Our Kids Act” Does Little to Protect Our Kids
Following impassioned testimony, the House voted 223-204 to pass a wide-ranging package of gun control legislation. The bill, H.R.7910 deemed the “Protecting Our Kids Act,” even received the support of five Republican lawmakers. However, two Democrats defected, voting against the legislation.
According to CNN Politics, “Five Republicans voted for the bill: Reps. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Fred Upton of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Chris Jacobs of New York. Two Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon — voted against it.”
Gun Control Wish List
The legislation, which was voted on along with H.R.2377 (Extreme Risk Protection Orders), is a long-time gun control wish list. As expected, it is chock full of measures American citizens clearly don’t want.
CNN Politics states, “The legislation that passed in the House includes a series of individual bills aimed at preventing gun violence. The measure would raise the legal age to buy certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles from 18 to 21 years old, establish new federal offenses for gun trafficking and for selling large-capacity magazines, and allow local governments to compensate individuals who surrender such magazines through a buyback program.”
“It would create a tax incentive for retail sales of safe storage devices and criminal penalties for breaking new requirements regulating firearm storage on residential premises. The measure would also take steps to strengthen existing federal regulations on bump stocks and ghost guns,” it continued.
While they labeled the bill “Protecting Our Kids Act,” none of this has anything to do with protecting our kids. Of course, we all want to see our children protected. But protection involves actual “protective” measures, like funding for security, hardening our schools, and funding mental health initiatives. All this legislation does is hobble law-abiding gun owners and empower black-market firearm dealers. Not to mention opening the door to full confiscation in the near future. Nothing else.
Lucretia Hughes Klucken, is a living example of the failures of gun control, “Gun control lobbyists and politicians claim their policies will save lives and reduce violence. Well, those policies did not save my son.”
Her testimony is shared by many parents in Democrat-run cities who fear for their children’s lives every day. Specifically, from violent felons with illegal firearms. She proves that gun control does not work and only emboldens criminals.
Facing Trouble in the Senate
In order for the legislation to pass the Senate, it will require 60 votes, which is unlikely. At present, there are 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and 2 Independents and this bill isn’t finding favor with many Republicans.
According to CNN Politics, “The measure is not expected to pass the Senate, however, amid widespread GOP opposition to stricter gun control. A bipartisan group of senators is engaging in talks in an attempt to find common ground on gun policy, but it is still unclear what, if anything, will come of the effort.”
However, this does not necessarily mean that the bill is in trouble. Democrats have been talking about eliminating the filibuster for the past year. And now, with the vigorous push for gun control, some are even saying this is the issue to do so.
Ending the filibuster would mean that only a simple majority would be necessary to pass the legislation. And that would be very possible.
The Legislation That Could Inadvertently Change Everything
Although political theater is nothing new and there has always been infighting between the parties, something is different. Democrats are now saying the quiet parts out loud. They plan to do whatever it takes to get what they want and are willing to eliminate the democratic process to do so.
Democratic New York Rep. Mondaire Jones recently stated, “You will not stop us from advancing the Protecting Our Kids Act today. You will not stop us from passing it in the House next week and you will not stop us.”
He continued, “If the filibuster obstructs us, we will abolish it. If the Supreme Court objects, we will expand it. And we will not rest until we have taken weapons of war out of circulation in our communities. Each and every day, we will do whatever it takes to end gun violence, whatever it takes.”
Likewise, President Biden recently joked on Jimmy Kimmel about jailing his political opposition (7:05 mark).
In the exchange, Kimmel asks, “It’s like you’re playing Monopoly with somebody who won’t pass ‘Go’ or won’t follow any of the rules, and how do you ever make any progress if they’re not following the rules?”
To which the President replies, “You’ve got to send them to jail.”
Only time will tell whether or not this legislation will make it past the Senate. But the measures Democrats have openly stated they will use to make it happen will change the face of democracy in this country forever.
We are in unchartered waters here and can only hope cooler heads will prevail. This is more than just a fight for our Second Amendment rights, this is a fight for all of them. Removing the filibuster and packing the SCOTUS would have very dangerous ramifications for a constitutional republic.
