5 House Republicans Vote for Sweeping Gun Control: Bill Heads to Senate

Four of the five Republicans who voted ‘yes’ will not be returning to Congress next term.

QUICK FACTS:
  • The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed 223-204 a sweeping a gun reform package, with five Republicans voting in favor of the Democrat-led bill: Reps. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Chris Jacobs of New York, and Fred Upton of Michigan.
  • All of the Republicans who crossed party lines and voted in favor of the legislation, beside Fitzpatrick, will not be returning to Congress next term.
  • Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN) did not vote.
  • The “Protect Our Kids Act” (HR7910) aims to ban high-capacity magazines, raise the age limit for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, create new firearm safe storage requirements, and tightly regulate bump stocks and “ghost guns.”
  • Only two Democrats, Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon, voted ‘no.’
  • The bill now moves to the Senate for a vote, where it has low chances of passing in light of the Senate focusing its negotiations on strengthening background checks, developing mental health programmes, and improving school security. The bill would need support from 10 Senate Republicans.
  • You can find and contact your local Senator here.
REPUBLICANS WHO FOR VOTED FOR MORE GUN CONTROL (CLICK NAME FOR CONTACT INFO):
FitzpatrickRepublicanPennsylvaniaYEA
Gonzalez (OH)RepublicanOhioYEA
Jacobs (NY)RepublicanNew YorkYEA
KinzingerRepublicanIllinoisYEA
UptonRepublicanMichiganYEA
GOP PUSHBACK ON THE BILL:
  • Republican House leaders voiced opposition HR7910 ahead of the vote.
  • Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) noting that “there wasn’t a conversation about banning airplanes” after the Sep 11 attacks.
  • “The answer is not to destroy the second amendment, but that is exactly where the Democrats want to go,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).
READ HR7910:
BACKGROUND:
  • HR 7910 passed the House following recent mass shootings spotlighted by the mainstream media in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas.
  • Republicans have pointed out how a U.S. appeals court last month ruled that California’s ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to adults under 21 was unconstitutional: “This is unconstitutional and it’s immoral. Why is it immoral? Because we’re telling 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to register for the draft. You can go die for your country. We expect you to defend us, but we’re not going to give you the tools to defend yourself and your family,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).
  • The House also approved a “red flag” bill Thursday that would allow families, police and others to ask federal courts to order the removal of firearms from people at extreme risk of harming themselves or others, The Associated Press reports.

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