WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement that he will use executive order to restrict American gun ownership:
“President Obama’s actions today represent a long-standing pattern of blatant disregard for the Constitution when it comes to Second Amendment rights. Once again, Democrats are playing politics with fundamental, constitutionally-protected guarantees, just as Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring did last month when he severed concealed carry reciprocity agreements with 25 states. This power grab has to stop. Congress has already considered measures like the ones the President is forcing through, and on each occasion, it has rejected those measures. By moving ahead without the approval of the legislative branch, the President is ignoring not only the will of Congress, but also the will of the American people.
“We are all touched by attacks like the one in San Bernardino, and we all grieve for those who have lost so much as a result. But to end this kind of violence, we need to address the real, underlying causes of these attacks. Limiting our constitutionally guaranteed rights is never the answer. That is why it’s so important for us to affirmatively protect the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens by advancing legislation like the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015 (H.R. 986). Likewise, it is essential that we do what this administration should have been doing for the past eight years: enforce the laws already on the books to make sure that violent criminals do not gain access to guns.
“Ultimately, the President’s executive action will be challenged in the courts, and under Republican leadership, the House will move forward with reforms that combat gun violence, address mental illness and other underlying causes, and vigorously protect the fundamental rights of men and women who obey the law. I promise I will fight with everything I have and use every opportunity available to counter these executive overreaches by the President that limit the fundamental liberties and freedoms guaranteed to us under the United States Constitution.”
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 is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.
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