Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Floor Speech

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Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Montana for yielding to me.

It is important for us to be here tonight. It is important for us to address the attack on the Second Amendment.

The reason I say that is that some people don't care about that Second Amendment. Some people would pack the Court to do away with that Second Amendment. That is an important right. It is so important that, in the Heller decision, Justice Scalia said: ``The very text of the Second Amendment implicitly recognizes the preexistence of the right and declares only that it `shall not be infringed.' ''

What does it mean when you say that right is preexisting? It means that it is not given by the government, and thus it cannot be taken away by the government. Instead, it is inherent in every individual, every person.

In fact, the reason I use the word ``individual'' is because Justice Scalia made very clear, after a very lengthy discussion regarding militia versus individuals, that this is an individual right. It isn't some kind of collective. It isn't some kind of government-organized right. It is a God-given right, and thus it is prohibited for government to infringe upon that right.

Justice Scalia went on to say exactly what I just said. He said: ``This is not a right granted by the Constitution. Neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence. The Second Amendment declares that it shall not be infringed.''

Anyone who has taken an oath of office to honor and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, how can they then vote for legislation that would surrender that right to the government?

My friends across the aisle have failed to remember how important it is. I am going to make three quick points.

Number one: Why is an AR-15 important? It is a gun that is light and easy to handle for people who are being attacked. It is a perfect defensive weapon. It is important that we remember that.

Second thing: Good guys with guns actually do save lives. Democrats ignored the recent incident in West Virginia where a woman used her 9- millimeter pistol to stop a shooter who was shooting toward a crowd of people, with an AR-15, by the way. They ignored the actions of Stephen Willeford, who stopped a shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

If you are relying solely on the police to come--I love my friends of the blue. We rely on them. We depend upon them. But when someone is attacking you, you don't always have time to wait for those first responders to get there.

My last point is this: If you are 18, 19, or 20 years old, you still have that God-given right to defend yourself and to the Second Amendment.

The proposals of this body ignore the fact that the Ninth Circuit recently recognized and realized that they have those rights, and they struck down a California law that imposed a restriction on 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds.

Ladies and gentlemen, those who are listening, don't give up your right. If you are a Member of Congress, don't take away this important God-given right.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rosendale for letting me speak.

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