Senate Republicans Introduce Bill Codifying Right to Bear Arms Outside the Home

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that the Senate Republicans would introduce a bill on Thursday which would codify right to bear arms for self defense outside of the home.

He said that the bill would include elements from the Supreme Court’s District of Columbia v. Heller 2008 decision and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen 2022 decision.

Heller was the court’s affirmation of an individual’s rights to possess a firearm. The Bruen decision affirmed that an individual can carry a gun outside of their home for self-defense. Graham stated that the bill would enshrine these rights in federal law. It would also allow citizens to sue any official or government agency who tries to violate that right.

“When you live in an autocratic environment, you don’t own; the government does,” Graham spoke at a press conference on March 16, 2023.

“[The Act is] to give you a cause of action so you can fight back.”

Sen. John Kennedy (R.La.), joined Graham. John Cornyn (R.Texas) joined Graham. Kennedy stated that Americans must respect the decisions made by the court regardless of their disagreements. Kennedy said that some Democrats believe it is okay to ignore rights they don’t agree with.

“Their copy of the Bill of Rights goes from amendment one to amendment three,” Kennedy said.

Graham claims that the Democratic Party continues to assault Americans’ constitutional rights and the institutions created to protect these rights. Graham said that a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing regarding public safety following the Bruen decision was an example.

Gun control advocates spoke out about how the Bruen decision affected other laws, including the prohibition on firearm ownership for domestic violence protection orders.

The court in Bruen established a “text and history” Test for courts that decide on a law’s constitutionality. This test is used to determine if a law doesn’t conform with similar laws that have been applied.

The committee heard from victims of domestic violence as well as gun control advocates that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals used this test to remove protections.

In this case, Zackey Rahimi was involved in multiple altercations where he fired a weapon while he was subject to a civil protective order. Rahimi pleaded guilty but appealed the decision.

Second Amendment advocates said that Rahimi should not have been held for his gun crimes. Instead, the courts released Rahimi, which allowed him more crimes.

Graham stated that the hearing was just one step in attempting to undermine a Supreme Court ruling and chip away at a fundamental constitutional right. Graham stated that liberals within the Democratic Party are committed to their political agenda more than anything else.

He explained that some liberal Democrats had begun to talk about packing the court following the Dobbs. v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. This decision overturned the constitutional right to abort and sent the decision back to states. He claimed that attempts to remove the filibuster as well President Joe Biden’s recent executive order expanding background check, increasing public scrutiny of gun dealers and redefining the meaning of abortion had been defeated. “deal in firearms” You are a part of this plan.

Executive order “evades the American legal system to get a political outcome,” Graham.

“They want an outcome, and they don’t give a damn how they get it.”

Cornyn urged Congress to go further in affirming Second Amendment rights. “national reciprocity.” National reciprocity would allow concealed carry permits and firearms licences to be honored in all states, just like driver’s licenses.

“A concealed handgun license should be treated the same way,” He stated.

Kennedy stated that while driving is not a constitutional right but it is still legal to drive a car in America. Kennedy said that drunken drivers aren’t punished as long as they obey the law.

“We don’t solve that problem by revoking everybody’s license. We focus on the problem—the drunk driver,” Kennedy said.

Gun rights organizations have criticised each senator for supporting a gun control measure that Biden called the Bipartisan Safer Community Act, which is regarded as the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years.

Cornyn’s role in negotiating the provisions of the Red Flag law bill has drawn criticism. These laws allow the government the power to seize guns belonging to persons who have been deemed dangerous to themselves or their community.

Texas legislator, John McKinney, stood by his efforts and said that the law would prevent guns from being taken away from criminals and people who aren’t competent to own guns.

“Any suggestion that I don’t support the Second Amendment is false,” Cornyn said. “It’s just a lie.”