Red River Private Property Protection Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

My motion to recommit would incorporate H.R. 1076, a Republican bill titled the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015, into the underlying bill.

The bill is straightforward. It says if you are on the FBI's terrorist watch list, then you don't get to walk into a gun store, pass a background check, and leave with a weapon of your choice. It is an outrageous loophole. And we know it allows dangerous people to easily get guns.

Since 2004, more than 2,000 suspected terrorists have legally purchased weapons in the United States. And more than 90 percent of all suspected terrorists who tried to purchase guns in the last 11 years walked away with the weapons they wanted. If there is one thing both sides of this House can agree on, it is keeping guns from terrorists.

I know my colleagues on the other side have expressed some concerns. So let's address them.

You are worried that there are names on the list that shouldn't be there. This is a legitimate concern. So let's scrub the list.

You are worried that it is difficult to get off the list if you are wrongly put on it. This bill has an appeals process.

You are concerned about denying people their Second Amendment rights. Well, I am a gun guy. I own guns. I support the Second Amendment. If this bill did anything to violate those rights, my name wouldn't be on it.

We are not talking about prohibiting law-abiding, non-dangerous people from getting guns. We are just talking about taking a pause.

I think we can all agree that it is better to err on the side of caution and let people get their names taken off the list, rather than just sell them a gun and hope they are not a terrorist.

So let's scrub the list and make it accurate. Let's make sure the appeals process is functional and efficient. And if someone is on the terrorist list and is denied from buying a gun, let's pump the brakes and make sure they are, in fact, not a terrorist before that sale is allowed to proceed.

Everyone on my side of the aisle stands ready to address your concerns. Will your side do the same? Will you address our concern about terrorists being able to have legal and easy access to guns?

We have a chance to take a simple, straightforward step to keep spouses, kids, and communities safe. We can take this vote today. I have filed a discharge petition on the bill. We just need a simple majority to sign it. You can do it right now.

If House Republicans agree that terrorists shouldn't be able to get guns, then walk down to the well, sign your name on the line, and let's have a vote.

It is your own party's bill. It was supported by George W. Bush's Department of Justice. All it does is prevent suspected terrorists from getting guns--in the exact same way we prevent criminals, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill from getting guns.

We will work with you to address your concerns. Do the same for us. Work with our side to keep guns from suspected terrorists.

This is an issue we can all come together on. 2,000 suspected terrorists buying guns is 2,000 too many. So let's stop it. Let's take a stand. Put your name down in writing and let's take a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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