On Thursday, the House passed two bills that would tighten gun sales regulations by expanding background checks. H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, would expand background checks on people who want to purchase or transfer firearms. The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 would close the “Charleston loophole,” through which gun sales don’t require a background check if it takes longer than three days, according to federal law.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was one of the eight Republicans who supported H.R. 8. “I firmly believe in the right to keep and bear arms, legally,” he said. I’m also a strong advocate for conceal carry … But we have a violence problem in this country, and it cannot be ignored.”
Like many gun provisions, H.R. 8 has sparked controversy, causing several myths about gun control laws to circulate again. Here are three common ones:
1. People don’t need guns if they have the police.
While arguing over the bill, Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, told a hypothetical story about a female victim of domestic violence, suggesting she may need a gun for her physical safety. A Vox reporter scoffed at the tale, saying, “Seems like that person should call the police.”
Unfortunately, the police often take time to respond to an emergency call, and a woman who has trained with a gun can be a great equalizer in any kind of dangerous situation, be it a robbery or domestic violence. As Second Amendment advocate Cam Edwards tweeted, “Eight Republicans [voted] in favor of putting people in prison for loaning a gun to their neighbor so she can protect herself if her abusive ex shows up at her house.”
It’s a myth, and a disgusting one, that a woman should not have the right to protect herself simply because she could have the option instead to call the police. Statistics show 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in her life. It is her right to prepare and protect herself accordingly — without waiting more than three days for a background check. Shame on Democrats and Republicans for stripping a bit of that freedom away today.
2. We need many more gun control laws to stop criminals.
When guns are used in a mass shooting, Democrats immediately resort to calling for tighter background checks or more gun control laws, anything that looks like it could stop another tragedy. As tragic as mass shootings are, that doesn’t make much sense. This country already boasts a myriad of gun control laws, including background checks. It’s already a crime to own a gun illegally. It’s already a crime to murder. There isn’t anything magical about universal background checks, especially since background checks already exist, that will stop someone already determined to break the law and commit heinous crimes. This doesn’t mean Republicans, Democrats, and regular citizens should give up trying to stop them, but it does require a different approach that doesn’t threaten the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding people.
3. Red flag laws are universally bad.
Even though changing the approach to gun laws seems necessary, when some Republican lawmakers try to initiate this conversation, it doesn’t always go well. After the 2019 shooting in El Paso, Texas (several hours from where I live), Rep. Dan Crenshaw offered condolences and suggested politicians examine what could be done to prevent this again. He mentioned taking a closer look at red flag laws, which permit people’s firearms to be taken from them if they are a clear danger to themselves or others.
This sent the Right into a frenzy. An author of an article at Texas Scorecard wrote, “In endorsing ‘red-flag’ gun laws at the state level, Crenshaw not only breaks with the conservative mainstream on gun rights issues but associates himself with a policy proposal that many figures in conservative circles have outright condemned. From gun rights activist groups to federal politicians, the greatest concern with ‘red-flag’ gun laws is that guns could be confiscated without due process from those suspected to have mental health issues.”
Crenshaw, however, didn’t wholesale support red flag laws; he said they should be carefully scrutinized. In a video posted a few days later, he fully explained his position. It’s worth listening to in full. Here’s a portion:
Crenshaw further proposed a list of parameters so that due process would not be abused, such as providing evidence, punishment for false accusations, a right to an attorney, and more. He concluded by suggesting that conservatives should continue to have an open dialogue about what gun laws could contribute to our safety while retaining constitutionality.
Gun laws are a trigger, no pun intended, for the Right and the Left. They strike fear into the hearts of both political sides for good reason. The Left tends to believe more gun laws are better; the Right believes gun control laws are unconstitutional. If the Right is to gain any ground on this debate, especially with a Democrat in the White House, Republicans must stick to the facts, dismiss the myths, and assure the public they will support only commonsense gun laws.
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
