Quigley Speaks Against Today's Contempt Vote
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) gave the following statement on the House floor against the contempt vote.
Those bringing this contempt vote say they want to talk about gun walking and how to stop it.
I say, okay, let's have that conversation.
They say they want to stop gun trafficking and keep our ATF agents safe, then properly fund the ATF, which has had the same number of agents since 1970.
They say they want to stop gun trafficking, then appoint a permanent ATF Director, which the agency hasn't had in over 6 years.
They say they want to stop gun trafficking, then pass laws that will actually deter straw purchasers.
Straw purchasers can currently buy thousands of AK-47s, lie on their paper work, and the penalty is equivalent to a moving violation.
They say they want to stop gun trafficking, then give the agents in the field what they keep asking for: The ability to track multiple purchases of long guns.
These long guns include AK-47s variant assault weapons, and .50 caliber semi-automatic sniper rifles, the "weapons of choice for international drug cartels.
They say they want to stop gun trafficking, then close the gun show loop hole, which currently allows anyone to purchase any gun they want, without a background check.
Felons, domestic violence abusers, those with severe mental illness, and even people on the terrorist watch list can currently walk into a gun show any buy any gun they want.
Yes, 2,000 guns were allowed to walk to Mexico, but the truth is tens of thousands of guns flow across our border every year because of lax gun laws.
But those bringing this contempt vote don't want to have this conversation, and they aren't serious about stopping gun trafficking.
They simply want to embarrass the administration; even though the Committee's sixteen-month investigation found NO evidence that the Attorney General knew about gun walking;
And even though there is NO evidence of the White involvement in gun walking, all of which chairman Issa admitted on National TV last week.
So if we are going to talk about gun trafficking, let's be clear: This is about politics, not safety.
