[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1740-H1741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
              PROTECTING AMERICANS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  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.

[[Page H1741]]

  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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