FRESHMAN LAWMAKER THREATENS IMPEACHMENT OVER GUN RIGHTS
Jonathan Easley
Freshman Republican Rep. Steve Stockman (Texas) on Monday said he would "seek to thwart" executive action by President Obama in regard to gun laws by any means necessary, even if it means "filing articles of impeachment."
"The White House’s recent announcement they will use executive orders and executive actions to infringe on our constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms is an unconstitutional and unconscionable attack on the very founding principles of this republic," Stockman said in a statement. "I will seek to thwart this action by any means necessary, including but not limited to eliminating funding for implementation, defunding the White House, and even filing articles of impeachment."
At a press conference in the East Room on Monday, Obama said he would consider executive actions on gun control, but said such actions would be limited in scope.
"Responsible gun owners ... they don't have anything to worry about," Obama said.
The president also ripped opponents for what he said were efforts of "ginning up fear" among gun owners.
But Stockman on Monday called potential executive action by the president "an existential threat to this nation."
"The right of the people to keep and bear arms is what has kept this nation free and secure for over 200 years," he continued. "The very purpose of the Second Amendment is to stop the government from disallowing people the means to defend themselves against tyranny. Any proposal to abuse executive power and infringe upon gun rights must be repelled with the stiffest legislative force possible.
"Under no circumstances whatsoever may the government take any action that disarms any peaceable person — much less without due process through an executive declaration without a vote of Congress or a ruling of a court. The President’s actions are not just an attack on the Constitution and a violation of his sworn oath of office," he continued, "they are a direct attack on Americans that place all of us in danger. If the President is allowed to suspend constitutional rights on his own personal whims, our free republic has effectively ceased to exist."
Obama said Monday he planned to review recommendations from Vice President Biden's working group, and would outline his plan to reduce gun violence by the end of the week. Obama did not say say whether an assault weapons ban would be central to that effort.