Shelby on Gun Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today released the following statement regarding the "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" ahead of the Senate vote on the legislation:

"I firmly believe that this legislation raises serious constitutional concerns and opens the door to the erosion of the Second Amendment to our Constitution. The Second Amendment states that 'the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.' This does not leave room for question. It is evident that our Founding Fathers counted the right to keep and bear arms as a fundamental right of all law-abiding Americans. The Second Amendment is not a suggestion.

"As such, I do not believe that restrictive gun laws are the answer to curbing violent crime in America. Let's enforce the laws already on the books, combat the culture of violence in society, and address the underlying issues that may contribute to such heinous acts. We must also ensure that individuals who commit crimes with firearms are held accountable for their actions and receive swift and certain punishment commensurate with their crimes.

"Congress should focus on solutions that truly tackle violent crime, address mental health, and ensure school safety without infringing on the constitutional freedoms of law-abiding gun owners. This bill does not do that. For that reason, I intend to vote against the 'Bipartisan Safer Communities Act' and will continue to oppose efforts that infringe upon the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms."

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