Email Insights: Richard Shelby defends second amendment rights

Thursday Senator Richard Shelby took to the Senate floor to honor those who were killed in the tragic shooting that took place on Wednesday and to praise first responders for their efforts and sacrifices.

In the speech, Shelby decried President Barack Obama‘s calls for further gun restrictions as well as echoed sentiments he recently made about an executive order that resulted in fewer resources for local law enforcement officers.

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today spoke on the Senate floor to defend the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.

The text of Senator Shelby’s remarks, as prepared, is below.

“Madame President, the tragic murders that occurred in California yesterday are unthinkable and horrific.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims, their families, and the entire community.  I would also like to take a moment to thank the brave first responders who selflessly and honorably risked their own lives in order to protect the lives of others.

“Following the tragic events of yesterday, President Obama – unsurprisingly – called to limit the Second Amendment rights of the American people through stricter gun control. This is yet another example of the President using tragic events to push his political agenda.

“Madame President, infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is not the answer to curbing violent crime in America.  Restrictive gun control measures only prevent law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves because criminals, by definition, refuse to follow the law.

“In addition to President Obama’s misguided calls for gun control, he recently issued an executive order to remove unarmed military surplus vehicles obtained through the Section 1033 program from local law enforcement.

“These vehicles have been valuable to local law enforcement in my home state of Alabama, specifically in Calhoun County.  They were also used by the local law enforcement seeking to protect those in harm’s way yesterday in California.  I have called on the President to reverse this dangerous decision in which he abuses the authority of his office by making unilateral decisions through executive fiat.

“Madame President, during this time of increased uncertainty at home and abroad, the American people are looking to us for certainty that we will do everything in our power to keep them safe.  Unfortunately, President Obama has once again chosen to attack and weaken local law enforcement and law-abiding citizens instead of focusing on fighting against criminals and radical Islamic terrorists.

“Let me be clear: the President’s calls to increase gun control and remove equipment that local law enforcement uses to keep us safe only undermines the safety and security of American citizens.  Madame President, we simply cannot – and must not – continue to let this Administration infringe upon our constitutional rights and put law-abiding Americans in harm’s way.”