WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding his vote to uphold the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and his opposition to the unconstitutional Safer Communities Act of 2022.
"Democrats see the United States Constitution as an inconvenience and will stop at nothing to legislate away the fundamental rights established in the Bill of Rights in their ruthless grab for control over the American people. The Safer Communities Act of 2022 is a knee-jerk reaction bill that tramples the Second Amendment and the Fourth and Fifth Amendments in attempting to 'do something.' Contrary to the narratives in the media, Republicans have children too and the safety of our most vulnerable is of utmost importance—but we cannot erode our constitutionally assured freedoms in the name of making us safer.
"While I support some elements of this legislation––such as the expansion of mental health services, penalties for illegal trafficking of firearms, and school hardening––I am vehemently opposed to key sections of this legislation. My NO vote today reflects my direct opposition to provisions in the bill that add duplicative and hindering background checks and the blatant assault on Americans' Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights through the support of unconstitutional Red Flag Laws. In the wake of tragedy, the easy decision is to buckle under the political headwinds of bully pulpits and political positioning—but the day we fold our Constitutional rights in the face of adversity is the day our Republic dies."
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