Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Sens. Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz will Filibuster Gun Control Bill

Guns.com reports:
On Tuesday, three republicans sent a letter to Senate House Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) telling him that they “will oppose the motion to proceed” any bill that subverts the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) drafted the letter that didn’t explicitly use the word ‘filibuster’ but was, nevertheless, clearly threatening one.

“We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions,” the three tea party conservatives wrote in the letter obtained by POLITICO.

A filibuster would delay or prevent the vote on Reid’s gun bill.  To avoid the filibuster or to stop one in progress, three fifths of the full Senate (60 out of 100 senators) would have to invoke cloture, which means to bring the debate to an end so that a vote can ensue.

Following Easter Recess, Reid will bring his gun control package up for consideration.  The package will include a measure to increase federal funding for school safety programs, a measure designed to crack down on straw purchasers and a controversial universal background check provision that has yet to be finalized.
Here’s the full text of the letter:
Dear Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,

We, the undersigned, intend to oppose any legislation that would infringe on the American people’s constitutional right to bear arms, or on their ability to exercise this right without being subjected to government surveillance.

The Second Amendment to the Constitution protects citizens’ rights to self-defense. It speaks to history’s lesson that government cannot be in all places at all times, and history’s warning about the oppression of a government that tries.

We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions.

Gun control is, of course, evil. If Rand stayed on this track of opposing government intrusion in the lives of individuals rather than attempting to simply rearrange the interventionist deck chairs, like he proposes to do with government mandated groping, he would be applauded here at EPJ, regularly. At this point, we take a wait and see attitude on everything Rand does. Let's see how his gun control opposition develops. If he sticks to his guns (pun intended), it will be something Rand can be applauded for.

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