Every day, whether I am working in Washington or in the Fifth District, I carry a pocket copy of the Constitution as a reminder of the sacred document that I swore an oath to protect and defend. To some, the Constitution is just a weathered piece of paper, but it’s something more: it’s the document that has guided America for more than 230 years, and it must be respected. With the Constitution being steeped in so much history, and core tenets that have withstood the test of time, why has it become such a lightning rod for countless attacks from Washington Democrats? I’ll tell you why: they want to see the Constitution changed to meet their own vision and standards. One of their first action items is to target the Second Amendment, and it’s already underway.

H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, carry dangerous implications even though they have titles that may seem appealing on the surface. Have you been noticing a trend so far in the 117^th Congress? The People’s House is taking up bill after bill that carry titles that suggest positive developments or novel initiatives, but underneath their polished exteriors there are countless, harmful provisions that are hidden from you. Time after time, it falls on Republicans to correct the record and uncover the facts so that the American people receive the truth, and we’re committed to doing so. Here are a few topline points from the Judiciary Committee about why these bills threaten your right to keep and bear arms:

• H.R. 8 would subject law-abiding gun owners to criminal penalties for simply handing a firearm to another person. If someone wanted simply to loan his or her rifle to a life-long friend to go hunting, he or she would face a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

• H.R. 8, if enacted, would inevitably lead to the creation of an invasive national gun registry that would be used to check compliance of gun owners without an in-depth understanding of whether private firearms transfers took place with a legally mandated background check.

• H.R. 1446 allows the government to delay the sale of a firearm for an indefinite period and prevent law-abiding citizens the ability to purchase a firearm in a timely manner to protect themselves and their families.

I’m proud to stand with the millions of law-abiding gun owners in America who share an abiding gratitude for both the Constitution and the Second Amendment itself. The bills described here rob us of our freedoms, and I stood in strong opposition and voted NO when both were brought for a vote. The Constitution explicitly states the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, and I’ll always fight to keep it that way.

The Stronger CAPTA Act

Holding Big Tech Accountable

Recently, in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I confronted ex Google CEO Eric Schmidt on big tech’s growing influence and control over the marketplace. Countless North Carolinians, both in the 5^th District and around the state, are tired of big tech’s stranglehold, and they’re particularly concerned that the unchecked power of big tech, its ability to marginalize competitors, and its silencing of any sort of competition they disagree with, will ultimately lead to dire consequences. Take the issue of rural broadband extension for example. A proposal from Schmidt to upend our nation’s spectrum framework would reportedly provide Alphabet and other tech firms with a “boon” to their already windfall profits, all while jeopardizing our nation’s ability to complete its rural broadband buildout. Knowing this threat, and the issues that are of great importance to the proud patriots who live in the Fifth District, I took big tech head-on and demanded immediate answers.

Click here to view the full hearing.

Quote of The Week

Have a blessed weekend.

Sincerely,