PA Bill Number: HB335
Title: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons.
Description: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons. ...
Last Action: Removed from table
Last Action Date: May 1, 2024
Cornyn respond to president's executive action restricting Second Amendment rights :: 01/06/2016
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement that he will circumvent Congress and take executive action to restrict the constitutional rights of the American people:
“Like the rest of the nation, I am saddened by the horrific acts of mass violence that have struck our communities but the measures announced today threaten our constitutional rights and would not solve the problem.
“An unwillingness to find common ground and achieve compromise has been a hallmark of this president’s tenure and this issue is unfortunately no different. Rather than unilaterally impose a gun control agenda that’s unlawful and strips the constitutional rights of elderly Americans, the president should better enforce current law and work with Congress on legislation reforming our mental health system.
“Legislation I’ve introduced, the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act, would strengthen the existing background check system without expanding it and improve treatment, preventative screening and crisis response for individuals with mental illness.
“If the president would roll up his sleeves and work with the bipartisan coalition in Congress who support legislation reforming our mental health system, together we could help prevent many of these tragedies from happening in our communities.”
During President Obama’s tenure, federal firearms convictions have dropped by 25 percent and are currently at their lowest levels since 2002.
Ten Year Decline in Federal Weapons Convictions
- Fiscal Year 2015 — 6,002
- Fiscal Year 2014 — 6,373
- Fiscal Year 2010 — 7,101
- Fiscal Year 2008 — 8,068
- Fiscal Year 2005 — 9,206
Sources: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (Syracuse University,) the National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees.
