Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement after she voted against H.R. 7910.
“I am proud to stand up for the Second Amendment rights of Upstate New York and the North Country against this legislation that shreds the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans with no effect on deterring criminals who do not follow the law when obtaining firearms. I have worked in Congress to introduce legislation that incentivizes gun safety and training, increase School Resource Officers in schools, and voted in support of the bipartisan FIX NICS Act, signed into law by President Trump, which improved the National Instant Background Check System. Additionally, I have voted to provide $1 billion in federal funds to support hardening schools and increase the number of School Resource Officers. As Far-Left Democrats double down on their unconstitutional agenda that shreds our Second Amendment rights, I will continue to stand up for the Constitution and push for solutions, including advocating for increased mental health resources across the country.”
H.R. 7910 would criminalize law-abiding Americans for having ready access to a self-defense firearm and would restrict law-abiding adults ages 18-20 from exercising their Constitutional rights, despite being eligible for military service. This bill fails to address the broader problem of gun violence or what drives some individuals to commit these terrible acts and does nothing to address mental health or prevent the dozens of shootings that occur weekly in Democrat-run cities across America.
Stefanik has taken action and introduced the Firearm Proficiency and Training Act, which incentivizes certified firearm training and concealed carry courses, as well as purchases of gun safety and storage equipment. She is also an original cosponsor of the STOP II, Secure Every School and Protect our Nation’s Children Act, which provides funding for School Resource Officers, mental health guidance counselors, hardening schools, active shooter training, and training for law enforcement, school officials, and students to intervene before a student reaches a breaking point. Stefanik cosponsored the School Resource Officer Act, which would increase funding for school resource officers through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and allow law enforcement agencies to hire more school resource officers, law enforcement officers responsible for safety and crime prevention in schools.
Stefanik supported the FIX NICS Act, which reauthorized the NICS Improvement Act, increasing records submission assistance for states, and requiring federal agencies to submit annual reports and certification of compliance. Stefanik also supported the STOP School Violence Act, which invests in early intervention and prevention programs to stop school violence before it happens. President Trump signed these two provisions into law in the Fiscal Year 2018 omnibus package.
