Peace and Healing Through Gun Bans

It is surprising to see that so many anti-gun bills already have been introduced in the first few days of the new U.S. Congress.

After all, we know that President-Elect Biden has called for a time of unity and healing after his clear victory in the November election. As the Associated Press reported today: “The theme for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration will be ‘America United,’ an issue that’s long been a central focus for Biden.”

We all know that President-Elect Biden, who spent his entire childhood in Scranton, embraced the classic values of rural Pennsylvania. Those include a humble devotion to God and a decent respect for the right to self-defense.

As a devout Catholic, Biden understands that defensive violence is not merely a natural right, but the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls it a “grave duty.” St. Thomas Aquinas explained that “if a man, in self-defense, uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repel force with moderation his defense will be lawful.”

This is why it is so puzzling that Democrats in Congress are pushing ahead with their controversial bills that would restrict Americans' right to keep and bear arms. They may have forgotten that it was just last week that President-Elect Biden reminded us of his “hopeful prayer for peace, justice, and healing the world over.”

It is odd. Why don’t these Democrats understand that, as the leader of their own political party repeatedly tells us, this is a time for national healing?

One proposed new law, H.R. 127, would require “the licensing of firearm and ammunition possession and the registration of firearms” and ban the possession of certain ammunition. Another, H.R. 121, would “provide for the hiring of 200 additional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and investigators to enforce gun laws.”

If you’re wondering what those 200 new ATF agents would do, H.R. 130 has an answer. That bill would “require the investigation of reports of improper storage of firearms or ammunition.”

Sadly, these proposals would further divide our troubled nation. The bizarre thing is that they have been introduced despite our president-elect telling us that it is time to “begin the work to heal and unite our nation!”

The only possible conclusion is that Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Illinois) and the rest have not been paying attention. Perhaps they do not know that Pew Research reports that any new gun laws would be “divisive.”

Someone should let them know. Today’s Democratic Party would never support their polarizing legislation during what the president-elect has proclaimed to be our new era of “America United.” It is so inconceivable as to be absurd. It could never happen here.

H.R.127 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To provide for the licensing of firearm and ammunition possession and the registration of firearms, and to prohibit the possession of certain ammunition. Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/04/2021)

H.R.130 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To require the safe storage of firearms and ammunition, and to require the investigation of reports of improper storage of firearms or ammunition. Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/04/2021)

H.R.194 — 117th Congress(2021-2022)** To require the Inspector General, Department of Justice, to submit a report to the Congress on the number of firearm transaction denials issued by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System that are referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for investigation, the number of prosecutions resulting from such investigations, and the number of firearms recovered by the Bureau in cases in which such a denial was issued after the firearm was transferred. Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] (Introduced 01/05/2021)

H.R.135 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report to the Congress semiannually on the number of firearms transfers resulting from the failure to complete a background check within 3 business days, and the procedures followed after it is discovered that a firearm transfer has been made to a transferee who is ineligible to receive a firearm. Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/04/2021)

H.R.167 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To prohibit the transfer of a firearm at a gun show by a person who is not a federally licensed firearms dealer. Sponsor: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (Introduced 01/04/2021)

H.R.30 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To increase public safety by punishing and deterring firearms trafficking. Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] (Introduced 01/04/2021)

H.R.121 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To provide for the hiring of 200 additional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and investigators to enforce gun laws. Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/04/2021)

H.R.137 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To authorize funding to increase access to mental health care treatment to reduce gun violence. Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/04/2021)

H.R.125 — 117th Congress(2021-2022) To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for a 7-day waiting period before a semiautomatic firearm, a silencer, armor piercing ammunition, or a large capacity ammunition magazine may be transferred. Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/04/2021)