Bipartisan federal gun control talks that include “red flag” provisions prompted a social media post from a senator opposed to them.
Republican Representative Marjorie Greene, R-Ga., posted a 2019 video exchange between her and Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Greene informed Graham she was worried about passing laws that take guns from people without sufficient due process restrictions against arbitrary confiscation.
“I ask if you guys will consider a way to put in this bill, where it doesn’t violate due process,” she can be heard saying to Graham in the video.
“We will,” the senator responded, adding, “there won’t be a bill without that.”
“Oh, thank you so much, sir,” Greene replied before again expressing worry about the possibility of weakened due process that Graham reassured her would not happen.
“In 2019, Lindsey Graham promised he wouldn’t support gun confiscation without due process,” the congresswoman commented. “In 2022, he’s ready to help Biden and the Democrats pass all of their gun control bills. Lindsey Graham needs to hear from you.”
“Tell him to vote NO on gun control, especially red flag gun confiscation,” she concluded. “Call 202-224-5972.”
Graham said progress was being made in bipartisan gun control talks he has been conducting with Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., regarding “red flag” confiscation, according to a June 1 CBS News report.
A red flag law, in most states, lets law-enforcement officials seize firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or other people after a court order is obtained. Critics worry that red flag requests will get rubber-stamped the way many judges approve almost every warrant request they receive.
Two lefts do not make a right but worries exist that red flag laws will let two leftists take away a right, namely the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
The National Association of Police raise several salient points in an online essay about red flag laws (or, as law enforcement term them, Extreme Risk Protection Orders). The author rightly notes that people opposed to guns have the idea that confiscation is their means of control that seems to often be behind passing red flag laws.
“First, objective guardrails should be installed to prevent abuse, political or otherwise,” said Steve Pomper. “Policies need to err on the side of not violating any of a person’s constitutional rights. Perhaps officers must be required to provide objective, articulable facts the person has demonstrated an “extreme risk” of danger to self or others.”
Statistically, 60 percent of U.S. gun deaths are suicides, but Pomper explains that is not what most people think about when discussing gun violence. He argues suicidal people will find another way to kill themselves if their guns are removed.
He continued by stating that most people who shoot at others use handguns not rifles.
“It’s important for people to know that a majority of the ‘gun violence’ statistics are not about people shooting each other with ‘assault rifles,'” explained Pomper. “It’s about people shooting themselves with handguns.”
Laws in 19 states already allow judges to take away guns from people considered at risk to others or themselves.
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