Texas Representative Wesley Hunt (R) gave a speech on the House floor against new gun legislation.
On January 13, 2023, the Attorney General signed ATF final rule 2021R-08F, also known as “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces.”
It amended the ATF’s regulations that clarified when a rifle is designed, made, and intended to be fired from the shoulder. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2023.
“Proud to stand on the House floor today in support of my colleague @Rep_Clyde’s Resolution to block the ATF’s unconstitutional rule criminalizing pistol braces,” said Rep. Hunt.
Proud to stand on the House floor today in support of my colleague @Rep_Clyde’s Resolution to block the ATF’s unconstitutional rule criminalizing pistol braces. pic.twitter.com/SXX9QVyozT
— Rep. Wesley Hunt Press Office (@RepWPH) June 13, 2023
“I’m a father, I’m a husband, I’m an American, and I’m a Texan. I will stand against any attempt to limit our right to self-defense. The 2nd Amendment shall NOT be infringed.”
I’m a father, I’m a husband, I’m an American, and I’m a Texan. I will stand against any attempt to limit our right to self defense. The 2nd Amendment shall NOT be infringed.
— Rep. Wesley Hunt Press Office (@RepWPH) June 13, 2023
The Texas lawmaker reminded the House of his history as well as his personal life as a father and husband.
“I’m a Texan, I’m a veteran and I am a gun owner. I am a gun owner of multiple AR-15s, primarily for hunting and, of course, to protect my three little kids at home, four year old, two year old and a five-month-old. And no one is going to walk into my house and harm my children or my wife or my family. That I can assure you.”
Rep. Hunt highlighted the numbers behind the homicides that include the semi-automatic weapon.
“Six percent of all homicides, gun homicides, are at the hands of an AR-15 and weapons that are outfitted with a pistol brace. [60%] are at the hands of a handgun and the rest are weapons designated not as a two that I just mentioned.”
The Texas representative stated that the legislation was in opposition to the rights of Americans.
“This is clearly an attempt to diminish our Second Amendment rights. Because if you just take away six percent of gun homicides, that leaves you with 94. And I can assure you that a homicidal maniac that wants to arbitrarily murder people will find another weapon of choice.”
Hunt contradicted the rhetoric that states that AR-15s are made for the battlefield.
“I hear the words ‘weapons of war’ oftentimes, as well. I’m a 64 Delta Apache pilot, I flew 55 combat missions in Bagdad, that is a weapon of war. A civilian-made AR-15 is nothing I would ever take to battle.”
The conversation about gun control is steadily being debated. Typically, gun control advocates are in favor of limiting access to guns. However, Hunt had a different opinion.
“Now, I also recognize that we have a mass shooting problem in this country and my colleagues on the Left would, of course, blame the AR-15, but I stand before you to blame the homicidal maniac. I walk in these halls every single day, and I am surrounded by brave men and women that carry AR-15s and weapons every single day. I have to walk the metal detector just to get in this building every single day. And just because I wear this pin, does not make me more important than my children.”
The Texas congressman stated that the House should vote to keep the guns in order to protect children.
“So, what I offer, instead of trying to erode our Second Amendment rights, I would offer, let’s protect our kids. Ensure that we have the same protection that we have in the halls of Congress.”
“There are over 400,000,000 guns currently in circulation. By the way, the overwhelming majority of the people that own these weapons are law-abiding citizens, like myself,” said Hunt.
Hunt drew connections to communism, stating that the loss of gun access would lead toward that system.
“I refuse to allow the erosion of our Second Amendment rights to further disarm our population, making us less safe as a further push towards communism, because that’s what happens.”
The Texas lawmaker stated that he was not going to let the American population be disarmed.
“You disarm your population and then the government runs amok. And we, especially not in Texas, are not going to allow that to happen. I certainly encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.”
Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia (D) recently released a statement celebrating the approval of a $36.9 million federal grant for the construction of 2 railroad underpasses in Texas.
Rep. Garcia expressed her support for the federal grant.
“Proud to announce a new $36.9 million+ federal grant that will close the funding gap for the city to construct two railroad underpasses at Commerce Street and Navigation Boulevard and York Street in the East End. These essential funds will improve safety in our communities,” said Rep. Garcia.”
