At Today's House GOP Press Conference, Rep. Zeldin Spoke re: His Proposal to Prevent Terrorists from Purchasing Firearms

Statement

On July 6, 2016, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, opened the House GOP Leadership Press Conference discussing his legislation, the Protect America Act (H.R. 4237), which would prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms or explosives while protecting the due process rights of Americans.

Also in attendance: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, House Republican Conference Chair, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and House Republican Conference Vice Chair, Rep. Lynn Jenkins.

You can watch Congressman Zeldin discuss his legislation here and read a copy of the transcript below.

"Congress' most important role is to keep Americans safe, secure and free.

We are too often reminded that while we frequently hear and read about terrorist attacks abroad, we have a very real, ongoing homeland security threat within our own borders.

In the wake of the Orlando terrorist attack, and the rise of terrorism across the world, it is important, now more than ever, that our nation and the free world define and eliminate the threat posed by Islamic terror groups.

This week, the House will take action on a counterterrorism package to help protect our country and citizens.

Included in this package is language from my proposal, the Protect America Act (H.R. 4237), which would prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms or explosives while protecting the due process rights of Americans.

I have not met one member of Congress in favor of terrorists being able to purchase firearms. The real debate is whether and how to ensure due process for Americans.

My proposal with Senator Cornyn in no way, shape or form infringes upon the rights of law abiding gun owners. What it does is ensure that terrorists do not have the ability to legally purchase firearms. Isn't that the goal here?

Two weeks ago, House Democrats waged a disruptive and destructive sit-in to shut down Congress because they supposedly wanted to pass legislation that prevents terrorists from being able to purchase firearms.

Now they can, with this proposal coming to the House floor, but Democrats are opposing it for no good reason. It's because they only want the political fight, and because they don't want to confront the three inconvenient truths I'm about to address.

Regardless of whether you are a liberal Democrat or a Conservative Republican, my proposal with Senator Cornyn should be supported by all.

It would require only the most partisan, bad intentions of my Democratic colleagues not to be praising and supporting this legislation. Just think about it.

It would also be the height of hypocrisy and irony not to push this measure with their full energy.

This bill wasn't written by the NRA. This proposal was drafted by members of Congress who understand how to prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms while protecting the due process rights of Americans.

There are three very important truths that my Democratic colleagues shouldn't find so inconvenient (1) The Orlando shooter was an Islamic terrorist pledging allegiance to ISIS and yelling "Allahu Akbar"; and (2) the rifle and handgun used in the Orlando shooting didn't just march itself into the nightclub and discharge itself. I'll get to the third inconvenient fact in a moment.

But first I want to point out that in reality, there is a whole lot more going on here beyond a gun control debate and attempts by members of Congress to narrow this issue so glaringly is alienating the rest of our country who understand the bigger picture.

We also must unite to ID the threat of radical Islam because you cannot eliminate a threat that you are not willing to identify, and what makes matters worse, is that it is clear that even if the President ID'ed the threat, he has no idea how to eliminate it. And that unfortunately is the third inconvenient truth.

Congress has a duty to prioritize national security over party politics, which is why Democrats should join House Republicans in passing this important proposal to prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms to keep Americans safe. It is their duty."

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