Blunt: Afraid of Vote on Second Amendment, Majority Pulls Housing Legislation

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today after Democratic leaders abruptly pulled pending legislation from the floor, fearful of taking a vote on a common-sense motion seeking to safeguard law-abiding Americans' rights under the Second Amendment:

"That law-abiding Americans have a right to bear arms - and that Congress has a responsibility to protect that right - is a bedrock principle of our Constitution, and a core belief of Republicans in Congress.

"From the perspective of House Democratic leaders, though, far too many rank-and-file Democrats felt the same way. And so faced with that reality on the floor this afternoon, Democratic leadership decided that no action would be far superior to any action affirming the existence of the Second Amendment.

"The majority's deeply-held unease over lawful gun-ownership is as apparent as it is disappointing. And today's decision to abruptly pull a federal housing bill from the floor schedule is just the latest example of how that apprehension can get in the way of accomplishing the people's work."

NOTE: Recently the D.C. Public Housing Authority provided that no resident of a public housing authority may possesses a firearm or ammunition even if they complied with all applicable laws. In the past, other public housing authorities have attempted to implement similar rules. The Republican motion sought to ensure that every American citizen is able to exercise their Second Amendment right, including those citizens that reside in public housing.

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Source: House Republican Whip Roy Blunt

CONTACT: Nick Simpson, or Antonia Ferrier, or Chris Tucker, all of the
Office of House Republican Whip Roy Blunt, +1-202-226-7022

2008-02-26 18:34:15 0298947 PRNEWSWIRE