Arizona representatives spoke out in favor of and against President Obama’s proposal to amend gun laws through executive order. Some representatives such as Rep. Matt Salmon and Rep. Raul Grijalva were very clear about their positions, while others like Rep. Trent Franks and Arizona Rep. Martha McSally were vague.
Senator John McCain:
President Obama’s executive orders on gun control are just the first of thousands of new unilateral actions that the White House plans to roll out this year that are projected to cost American businesses and consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. With these unconstitutional executive orders, President Obama has once again ignored the separation of powers and disregarded the rule of law. Regardless of merit, this is a classic abuse of executive power. These issues must be debated and decided by the representatives of the people – not by executive fiat. I will continue to uphold my obligation as an elected official in Congress to push back on all of President Obama’s unconstitutional actions.
Rep. David Schweikert:
President Obama is pushing his liberal ideology, I’m fighting to advance the Second Amendment. This week I will be introducing legislation to expand concealed carry reciprocity for Arizona citizens.
Rep. Trent Franks:
My staff and I are waiting to hear the President’s full plan before we formulate any kind of position or response. I expect, however, that the President will continue his long-standing policy of executive overreach and blantantly ignore the Constitution.
Rep. Matt Salmon:
“The President doesn’t seem to understand the nature of a democracy, which was made even clearer at today’s address. The American people, through our elected representatives, make the laws of the nation. Presidents don’t have the power to singularly change them when it suits their mood. That’s not a democracy.
“The ‘executive actions’ he announced today wouldn’t have done anything to avert the senseless killing in San Bernardino. To say this speech presented solutions would be an overstatement. Beyond the President’s condescending tone, Americans are no closer to security with these changes (were they legal) than without them.
“Ironically, while he sidesteps the Constitution like a Central American dictator, the President refuses to enforce our immigration laws and stop the numerous individuals who mean America harm from freely flowing into the nation. Maybe he should start making America safer by enforcing those laws first.”
Rep. Raul Grijalva:
All gun purchases should be subject to a background check, and I applaud the president for working within his power towards achieving that goal. The American people have been consistent in their demands that Congress stem the bloodshed brought on by our lax gun laws, but the Republicans in charge have turned a deaf ear to all but one constituency: the NRA’s leadership. President Obama took steps today to rise above the GOP’s intransigence on gun violence, and proposed much-needed investments in our enforcement and mental health capabilities. I look forward to working with him and our next president to build on this success.
Rep.Ann Kirkpatrick:
Gun violence has torn apart too many communities here in Arizona and across our nation, so we need to close dangerous loopholes and strengthen the enforcement of background checks and laws already on the books. In an ideal world, these are problems Congress would come together and solve, but this Congress has abandoned every common-sense effort to address gun violence — it can’t even close the Terror Gap loophole. House leadership is paralyzed by its fear of the gun lobby and continues to sit idly by and do nothing to keep us safe.
Rep. Paul Gosar:
“The president’s latest partisan attack on the Second Amendment represents the pinnacle in a legacy of lawlessness. Despite his hollow, self-righteous attempts to intimidate law-abiding Americans, his executive order will only result in further gun crime and death. The president’s gun control proposals would not have stopped any of the major shootings which took place this past year. Gun violence is committed by criminals, yet, the focus of this executive order is on restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens. Elements of the executive order will unjustly strip some social security recipients of their second amendment rights. Whether it is blind ignorance or intentional deceit, President Obama’s actions will sabotage the safety of countless Americans in order to score political points with the far-left.
“This unconstitutional executive order violates the separation of powers by creating a new law without the consent of Congress and actually attempts to prosecute American citizens under new mandates that have been rejected by Congress. Republicans and Democrats, along with the American people, have already blocked the president’s gun control proposals three different times. Now, Congress must act again and fulfill its duty to put a stop to this dangerous precedent of executive overreach. I am proud to be leading the charge as an original cosponsor of legislation that will block any executive actions that violate the Second Amendment or infringe on Congress’ Article I responsibilities. As an elected Representative, I will never stop fighting to take back the power of the House from an out-of-control executive branch that represents the single greatest threat to American liberty.”
Rep. Martha McSally issued no official statement. She did cite a bill she proposed last year that would tie gun control to mental health issues. She reportedly stated that the President’s order would do little to solve the situation.
Rep. Ruben Gallego:
It’s simple. If you’re in the business of selling guns – in a store, online, or at a gun show – you must conduct background checks.