(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) released the following statement after voting ‘no’ on gun control bills, H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446. 

“The good people of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District are fed up with leftists’ complete disregard for the U.S. Constitution and Speaker Pelosi’s corrupt tactics.

In the latest attempt to suppress the voices of almost 50 percent of representatives duly elected by the American people to represent their values—both H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 came to vote on the floor without first going through committee markups or hearings. The House Democratic Majority Leadership team does not want to answer for the content of these flawed bills.

Progressives would rather jam through legislation that infringes on the rights of everyday Americans and politically panders to the far-left extreme of their party. I am not surprised Pelosi once again denied U.S. citizens the ability to have their voices heard given that she still refuses to open back up the People’s House.

H.R. 1446 gives the federal government even more control over your Second Amendment rights than ever before. The bill’s waiting period mandates are an egregious violation of your right to gun ownership. H.R. 8 would criminalize the private transfer of a firearm without first a NICS background check. This means even handing a shotgun to your hunting partner now makes you a criminal.

Neither of these bills addresses the issues resulting in gun violence in America. Both gun control bills voted on today make it harder for law-abiding citizens to obtain guns to protect themselves and nothing to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of criminals.

I voted no on both H.R. 1446 and H.R. 8. I fully believe that law-abiding citizens have the right to protect themselves and their families without unnecessary government interference. I urge all concerned citizens to contact their U.S. senators and tell them to vote no on both of these gun control bills.”

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