Protecting Americans' Constitutional Rights

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the Second Amendment is a fundamental piece of the U.S. Constitution. The right to keep and bear arms is one of Americans' inalienable freedoms. This has been true for centuries, and despite what the White House would like you to think, this is still true.

Right now, the left is advancing unprecedented threats to Americans' Second Amendment rights. Just last week, the President rolled out two executive orders that would restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens. The President proudly announced that he is willing to undercut our core constitutional liberties. With his pen and, I might add, without Congress, the President can singlehandedly unravel our rights.

Mr. Speaker, I fear that we are embarking on a perilous path. Now, more than ever, we must recommit to protecting this vital freedom.

Instead of stripping away Americans' constitutional rights, the U.S. Government should be focused on enforcing law and order. Instead of stripping away Americans' constitutional rights, the U.S. Government should be focused on securing our southern border. Instead of stripping away Americans' constitutional rights, the U.S. Government should be focused on protecting our citizens from gang violence, stopping human trafficking, and stopping the illicit drugs that cross our porous southern border.

The President is correct that we have a public health crisis. We have a public health crisis on the southern border. While the Commander in Chief spends time plotting ways to subvert the U.S. Constitution, the brave men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are encountering record numbers of migrants attempting to cross the border unlawfully.

Last month alone, border agents encountered more than 170,000 migrants, a colossal 400 percent increase from the same time last year. Yes, this is indeed a crisis. But the problem is not with the law- abiding citizens. The problem is not with the Second Amendment.

Here in Washington, our leaders need to get their priorities in order. We need to uphold our oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. We need to defend the American people from foreign threats. And we need to protect our fundamental freedoms.

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