A Republican congressman from Florida caused a stir during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday when he displayed several home- and self-defense firearms he owns that would be banned under newly-proposed Democratic gun control legislation.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who attended the meeting virtually from his home, ripped his Democratic colleagues during the meeting, proclaiming, “Their plans and their intentions are clear.”
“They want to take away law-abiding citizens’ ability to purchase the firearm of their choice,” he charged. “And don’t let them fool you that they are not attempting to take away your ability to purchase handguns. They are using the magazine ban to do it.”
The committee had convened to debate and hold a vote on H.R. 7910, a sweeping gun reform package, known as the “Protecting Our Kids Act,” that seeks to “increase the age limit on the purchase of certain firearms, prevent gun trafficking, modernize the prohibition on untraceable firearms, encourage the safe storage of firearms.”
Democrats claim the package sets forward “common sense” gun control, but Republicans contend the legislation unduly strips Americans of their Second Amendment rights.
To point out how ridiculous the legislation is in clear terms, Steube noted that a Glock 19 with a 15-round magazine would effectively be banned.
He then offered several examples of guns in his own personal collection that would be banned should the package be passed.
“Here’s a gun I carry every single day to protect myself, my family, my wife, and my home,” Steube said at one point, presenting his XL Sig Sauer P365 — one of the most popular handguns on today’s market.
“It comes with a 15-round magazine,” he said. “This gun would be banned.”
That’s when Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) chimed in, saying, “I hope the gun is not loaded.”
Steube immediately shot back: “I’m at my house. I can do whatever I want with my guns.”
Shortly after, Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), the bill’s sponsor, interrupted Steube, repeatedly urging him to yield for questions.
Steube later concluded that Democrats don’t actually want to end mass shootings in America but are rather using the crises as a pathway to restricting Americans’ right to keep and bear arms. “This is a push to take away your right to carry whatever firearm you please to defend yourself,” he claimed.
The hearing comes amid a spate of highly-publicized mass shootings in the country. President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a national address calling for gun control reform Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Below are Steube’s full remarks at the hearing:
Rep. Steube Defends the 2nd Amendment at House Judiciary Committee
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