Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007

SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

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Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Congresswoman Musgrave for her leadership on this amendment, which would prohibit any funds in the appropriations bill being used to enforce the mandatory trigger lock provisions, essentially a tax on citizens who purchase a handgun.

It is my view that the new trigger lock bill is bad public policy. The new bill provides, or the law is a tax on citizens who purchase firearms. Responsible and law-abiding gun owners do not need the government to tell them to be safe. Responsible gun owners will take protective steps without the government mandating trigger locks.

Responsible users who will use a provided lock would also be using safer and more secure methods, such as a lockbox, quick-action safes or full gun safes. I would like to thank Congresswoman Musgrave for her leadership in understanding there can be unintended consequences.

It is my view that many people who in good faith are working for restrictions on the use of weapons are actually not achieving what they meant. My experience with this, I worked in the State of South Carolina in the State senate. To provide concealed weapons permits, we were warned that if persons who were law-abiding citizens could apply for a concealed weapons permit, it would lead to the shoot-out at OK Corral. The exact opposite has occurred. There has been a reduction in gun violence, a reduction in crime, almost 50,000 people in my home State now have a concealed weapons permit.

And people who were opposing our bill now tell me that it works. And so I would like to commend Congresswoman Musgrave on her vision to protect the people of the United States.

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