WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Wittman (VA-01) stated the following after voting “no” on both H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021:
“Just as many of you are, I am concerned about gun violence and believe we should continue to address this problem, but without curtailing Second Amendment rights. However, H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 are ineffective responses to gun violence that will have the effect of depriving law-abiding citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights while doing little to prevent mass shootings or prevent individuals who should not possess firearms from purchasing firearms. We already have such a strong background system in place: The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and current federal laws are already strong on background checks and transfer guidelines. All sales from firearm dealers, or sales between residents of different states, must satisfy the background check requirements, regardless of whether those sales happen in a gun shop, at a gun show, or out of the back of somebody’s trunk in a parking lot.
H.R. 8 would effectively criminalize gun transfers or sales without government permission. It does nothing to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms, instead punishing law-abiding gun owners by criminalizing common activities such as trades, private sales, gifts, or temporary loans of firearms. Criminals do not follow the law when obtaining their firearms and nothing in the bill would prevent them from continuing to obtain firearms through avenues like the black market or illegal straw purchases.
In addition, H.R. 1446 creates arbitrary delays and infringes on millions of Americans’ Second Amendment right to defend themselves and their families. Current law allows the sale of a firearm to an individual if the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) does not return a denial within 3 full business days. This legislation extends the initial 3 business day waiting period to up to 20 business days. As technology has advanced since NICS was introduced over twenty years ago, we should be looking to shorten the waiting period, not lengthen it.
There are real solutions to gun violence and mass shootings but instead of pursuing those solutions, the Majority chose to legislate based on ideology rather than evidence. To combat gun violence, we must look at improvements to our mental health system, and we must more effectively enforce the laws currently on the books, not take away American’s rights. We can preserve the Second Amendment --as written-- and solve gun violence. I hope to see the Majority join me in exploring those solutions.”
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the full Committee and Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
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