Anti-Gun Legislation Introduced (Feb. 2009) PDF Print

Knowing of your interest in 2nd Amendment issues, I wanted to discuss the widespread concerns I have heard about H.R. 45, an anti-gun measure that was recently introduced in the House of Representatives. Last week I voiced my strong opposition to this legislation with North State residents at the Chico Gun Show, and would like to inform you of my objections as well.

H.R. 45 would make it illegal to own a firearm without a license and require the Attorney General to establish a database of every handgun sale, transfer, and owner's address in America. Further, it would make it illegal to transfer ownership of a "qualifying firearm" to anyone who is not a licensed gun dealer or collector, and require firearm owners to report all transfers to the Attorney General's database. In doing so, this measure would grossly undermine Americans' Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

I believe that regardless of how strictly we write our laws, criminals will always be able to acquire deadly weapons. Rather than imposing more gun control laws that punish and prevent law abiding citizens from fulfilling their Constitutional right, I support increased criminal sentencing and better enforcement of existing laws as the best long-term answers to the problem of crime in America. With that in mind, I will continue to fight for our 2nd Amendment rights and vote against H.R. 45 should it come to a vote in the House.