LaMalfa Opposes Legislation to Infringe on Second Amendment Rights

February 27, 2019

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. This legislation seeks to impose "universal" background checks that would only ultimately apply to law-abiding citizens and infringe on Second Amendment rights. H.R. 8 passed the House 240-190 with primarily Democrat support.

LaMalfa said: "By definition, criminals do not comply with the law. So what makes my Democrat colleagues think that tightening background checks on law-abiding Americans will decrease gun violence? Criminals get their guns from the black market, the so-called dark web, or by other illicit means, and none of the major shootings in this country would have been prevented by these laws. This legislation is a farce that would only make life more difficult for honest Americans and jeopardize their safety – while not so much as inconveniencing real criminals. We cannot allow California's radical gun laws to be imposed upon all Americans."

In an investigation spanning 72 attempts over a 2 ½ year period, undercover agents found that zero private sellers would knowingly complete a sale of a firearm to a buyer they had reason to believe was prohibited or lived in another state.

A link to the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the government investigation into illegal online gun sales commissioned by gun control activists can be found here.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

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Issues:Congressional Issues