Obama Care: President's overreach on guns must be stopped

President's overreach on guns must be stopped - The Hill's Congress Blog @import "/plugins/content/jw_disqus/tmpl/css/template.css"; li.item435,li.item437,li.item439,li.item441,li.item443,li.item497,li.item499,li.item501,li.item503,li.item605,li.item689,li.item691,li.item693,li.item695,li.item697,li.item683,li.item685{display: none;} var _comscore = _comscore || []; _comscore.push({ c1: "2", c2: "10314615" }); (function() { var s = document.createElement("script"), el = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.async = true; s.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js"; el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el); })(); function getURLParameter(name) { return decodeURI( (RegExp(name + '=' + '(.+?)(&|$)').exec(location.search)||[,null])[1] );}(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=369058349794205"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); if (getURLParameter("set_fb_var") == '1') { jQuery.cookie('set_fb_var', 'true', { expires: 7, path: '/' }); return true; } if (!jQuery.cookie('set_fb_var') && d.referrer.match(/facebook.com/i)) { window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '340094652706297', status: true, xfbml: true, cookie: true, oauth: true }); }; }}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));if((navigator.userAgent.match(/iPhone/i)) || (navigator.userAgent.match(/iPod/i))) {document.write('

');}if(navigator.userAgent.match(/iPad/i)) {document.write('

');}if(navigator.userAgent.match(/Android/i)) {document.write('

');}

Follow @thehill!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");Advanced Search Options »

Home/NewsSenateHouseAdministrationCampaignPollsBusiness & LobbyingSunday Talk ShowsCampaign 2012Business & LobbyingK Street InsidersLobbying ContractsLobbying HiresLobbying RevenueOpinionColumnistsEditorialsLettersOp-EdWeyants WorldCapital LivingCover StoriesFood & DrinkNew Member of the Week20 QuestionsMy 5 Min. W/ObamaAnnouncementsMeet the LawmakerJobsVideoGossip: In The Know

Briefing RoomRegWatchHillicon ValleyE2-WireBallot BoxOn The MoneyHealthwatchTransportationDEFCON HillGlobal AffairsCongressFloor ActionGOP12In The KnowPunditsTwitter Room

HomeSenateHouseAdministrationCampaignPollsBusiness & LobbyingSunday Talk ShowsBlogsBriefing RoomRegWatchHillicon ValleyE2-WireBallot BoxOn The MoneyHealthwatchTransportationDEFCON HillGlobal AffairsCongressFloor ActionGOP12In The KnowPunditsTwitter RoomOpinionA.B. StoddardBrent BudowskyLanny DavisDavid HillCheri JacobusMark MellmanDick MorrisMarkos Moulitsas (Kos)Robin BronkEditorialsLettersOp-EdsJuan WilliamsJudd GreggChristian HeinzeKaren FinneyJohn FeeheryCapital LivingCover StoriesFood & DrinkAnnouncementsNew Member of the WeekMy 5 Min. W/ObamaAll Capital LivingVideoHillTubeEventsVideoClassifiedsJobsClassifiedsResourcesMobile SiteiPhoneAndroidiPadLawmaker RatingsWhite PapersOrder ReprintsLast 6 IssuesOutside LinksRSS FeedsContact UsAdvertiseReach UsSubmitting LettersSubmitting Op-edsSubscriptions

President's overreach on guns must be stoppedBy Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas)-01/17/13 01:00 PM ET Tweet !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");

Our nation and our children are safe and secure when law-abiding Americans are allowed to defend themselves without interference from politicians.

Not only have gun bans and anti-gun laws utterly failed to reduce crime or protect innocents, statistics prove anti-gun measures actually increase crime and lead to tragedy.

For example, in the 22 years prior to 1990 federal enactment of “gun-free school zones” there were two terrible mass shootings on school or university campuses.

In the 22 years after the gun ban there were 10.

That tragic failure has not deterred the White House from using the issue to divide Americans for political gain.

Rather than take measures proven to reduce gun violence, the White House Wednesday engaged in a grandstanding political attack intended to divide Americans. His executive orders and legislative proposals make us less safe from criminals and dangerous people.

I will urge Congress to defeat the president’s legislative proposals that violate the Constitution and make us less safe. They must not pass.

My office is also currently reviewing the president’s executive orders against the Constitution and existing law.

These executive orders may abuse executive authority by touching upon rights held by the people and usurping Congress’ constitutional authority as the only lawmaking body.

Among the executive orders are expanding background checks, which creates a de facto national gun registry, to the private transfer of firearms. For example, if you give a loved one your hunting rifle, you may face prison if you fail to get approval from the government.

Those proposals, along with others floated by the White House as presidential decrees, are cutting attacks on the right of a peaceable citizen to keep and bear arms for your personal defense.

The Executive Orders issued by President Obama are not intended to execute laws passed by the Congress. President Obama is abusing his authority to write his own unaccountable laws intended to influence private citizens.

I am prepared to assert the Constitution with peaceable legislative force.

- I will seek legislation overturning the executive orders.

- I will seek legislation barring funds to enforce the executive orders.

- I will seek legislation to cut White House funding should the president enforce such executive orders.

- I will support legal efforts to overturn the executive orders in court.

- I would hope those legislative and legal remedies would deter President Obama or thwart his efforts.

However, if they do not or are unsuccessful I will consider speaking with my colleagues and filing articles of impeachment.

Impeachment is not something to be taken lightly. It is a grave and serious undertaking that should only be initiated in a sober and serious manner. It should be reserved only for most egregious of trespasses by the president.

I would consider the president’s use of executive orders to engage in attacks on a constitutionally-protected right to be a violation his sworn oath of office. The president cannot issue executive orders depriving the people of full access to an enumerated constitutional right through petty bureaucratic harassment.

I do not think it will come to that. The president cannot write his own laws that impact private citizens. His actions and orders can, and should, be checked and balanced by the Congress and the courts – if the Congress is willing.

Additionally, I have introduced the “Safe Schools Act” to repeal so-called “gun free school zones.” The law has not only failed to protect our children, it has made them vulnerable targets and succeeded only in persecuting law-abiding citizens who accidentally travel near a school with a gun, such as the Montana honors students caught with a hunting rifle in her car. Those law-abiding citizens, not criminals, are the only ones impacted by “gun free school zones.”

Congress has an obligation to not only assert its constitutional authority as the only lawful rule-making body, but to overturn bad laws that place innocents in danger.

The purpose of government is to protect rights, such as life and liberty, from those who would trespass upon them. The president’s political attacks do not protect children. They only divide us for political gain.

I would encourage my colleagues to join me, and their constituents in defeating the political attacks disguised as legislative proposals, supporting H.R. 35, The Safe Schools Act, to reverse the tide of tragedy the failed 1990 law has pulled in as well.

I would also encourage my colleagues to join me in seeking to first overturn and defund any executive orders impacting private citizens, keeping further measures on the table for future consideration if need be.

Stockman is a freshman Republican from Texas.

Tweet !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=369058349794205"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); View Comments Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/civil-rights/277775-presidents-overreach-on-guns-must-be-stoppedThe contents of this site are © 2013 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.

Congress Blog
Most Popular StoriesMost ViewedDon't wait for President Obama to act on immigration reformPreserving the Medicare Hospice BenefitA modest proposal: Bill fine-tunes nation's anti-trafficking toolsPresident's overreach on guns must be stoppedCongress must step in to resolve Puerto Rico's future statusEmailedPreserving the Medicare Hospice BenefitMeasuring support for Puerto Rico statehoodNLRB nominee should be judged on meritsForeign aid: A Beltway outsider perspectiveCongress must step in to resolve Puerto Rico's future statusDiscussedChristian Armenia and Islamic Iran: An unusual partnership explainedTime to settle Puerto Rico's statusForeign aid: A Beltway outsider perspectiveBlog Home »

Most Viewed RSS Feed » More Civil Rights HeadlinesThe meaning and viability of the Thirteenth AmendmentReauthorizing VAWA in current form could be grave mistakeNew Congress should focus on passing VAWAMore Civil Rights Headlines »

Civil Rights News RSS feed »

Congress Blog Topics Campaign » Cardoza's Corner » Civil Rights » Economy & Budget » Education » Energy & Environment » Foreign Policy » Healthcare » Homeland Security » Judicial » Labor » Lawmaker News » Politics » Presidential Campaign » Religious Rights » Technology » The Administration »

Briefing RoomPoll: Hillary Clinton retiring with 69 percent job approvalOn first lady's birthday, new poll shows strong supportIn op-ed, Obama urges lawmakers to ‘act soon’ against gun violence
More Briefing Room »Congress BlogThe Second Amendment is a fundamental rightDon't wait for President Obama to act on immigration reformPresident's overreach on guns must be stopped
More Congress Blog »Pundits BlogThe NRA is mentally unbalanced — no, just plain crazySoothing the liberal conscienceMemo to the NRA
More Pundits Blog »Twitter RoomTwitter has 100 percent participation by new SenateObama gathering online support for gun violence planFirst lady's office launches new Twitter account @FLOTUS
More Twitter Room »Hillicon ValleyAmb. Kramer: US eliminated '80 to 90 percent' of objectionable proposals for UN treatyHouse to investigate wasteful technology spendingDem lawmaker introduces bill to ban sales of violent video games to minors
More Hillicon Valley »E2-Wire (Energy)DOE names new Bonneville Power Administration chiefGOP governors, Canadian leader press Obama to approve Keystone pipelineGroups battle on Keystone XL pipeline
More E2-Wire (Energy) »Ballot BoxNRA fundraising email says Obama wants to 'reduce your freedom to ashes'NRCC chairman refuses to back Mark Sanford for HouseObama campaign urging supporters to back gun control push
More Ballot Box »On The MoneyRyan: House GOP discussing short-term hike to debt ceilingAudit: More work needed to keep refunds from prisonersHousing construction hits nearly five-year high in December
More On The Money »HealthwatchHELP panel to hold hearing on mental health Hospitals push White House to back change in healthcare lawHHS announces $1.5B for state exchanges
More Healthwatch »Floor ActionNY, Idaho lawmakers urge USDA to reclassify Greek yogurt as a proteinRep. Brady says Obama gave 'free pass' to Hollywood on gun violenceCoburn says he won’t filibuster gun bills, wants an open debate
More Floor Action »TransportationSpirit Airlines invokes Manti T’eo girlfriend controversyMediator: Dockworkers, East Coast ports making ‘progress’ in labor negotiationsDC Metro Silver Line extension 87 percent complete
More Transportation »DEFCON HillInhofe, Panetta trade shots over gridlock on sequestration cutsReport: US drones deployed to Algeria to monitor hostage crisis Panetta backs weapons ban, says only military needs 'armor-piercing bullets'
More DEFCON Hill »Global AffairsAlgerian hostage drama ends with air strike, unknown casualtiesObama administration warns of Mali violence spillover across western AfricaPuerto Rican Alliance VP José L. Arbona: Congress must step in to resolve Puerto Rico's future status
More Global Affairs »In The KnowRove signs multi-year deal to stay with FoxShe bangs — new hairdo for Michelle Obama?Manti Te'o saga reached House floor
More In The Know »RegWatchMine safety rule prompted by deadly explosion faces industry blowbackTreasury battles another Mexican drug cartelPeter King calls Obama’s executive directives on gun violence 'hype'
More RegWatch »

Blogs News Feed

Congress Blog RollCapital GamesDaily KosDCCCDNCDrudge ReportDSCCJudicial WatchNRCCNRSCPolitical AnimalRNCThe ChamberPostThe CornerThe Huffington PostThe NoteThe Plank

COLUMNISTSLanny Davis