September 29, 2022
Dear Mr. Smith,
Thank you for contacting my office regarding H.R. 8374, the Shall Not Be Infringed Act. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views on this important matter, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, on June 25th, 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law. This deceptively named law was rushed through Congress behind closed doors, fails to address gun violence in our communities, and frames responsible gun owners as a scape goat for Democrats’ failed policies. The Shall Not Be Infringed Act would repeal this law to restore Hoosiers’ second amendment rights. Currently, the Shall Not Be Infringed Act has been referred to House Committee on the Judiciary, of which I am not a member. Should this bill come before the full House of Representatives for a vote, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.
I am 100 percent committed to protecting your right to bear arms, which is why I proudly voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in June. Our Founding Fathers could not have been clearer – the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. As a firearm owner and lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, I am passionate about safeguarding the fundamental right of all Hoosiers to protect themselves and the people they love. The United States Constitution sets forth that gun ownership is not a special privilege reserved for a select few but is a protected freedom for all law-abiding citizens.
I believe we must work together to reduce gun violence in our country, but it is essential that we address the root cause of the problem – not just the symptoms. Instead of supporting legislation that infringes upon our constitutional right to keep and bear arms, I believe we need to redirect our focus on supporting local law enforcement, ensuring laws and protocols are followed to spot the warning signs of violence, and keep firearms out of the hands of those battling mental illness. I believe we can find solutions to gun violence while protecting the fundamental rights of law-abiding citizens. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and local officials to address the underlying causes of this violence, identify the cracks in the system, and intervene before precious lives are lost.
As your Representative in Congress, I will continue to support measures that protect Hoosiers’ Second Amendment rights and fight back against radical legislation that infringes on those rights the Founders deemed essential to our freedom. It is an honor to serve Hoosiers of Indiana's Sixth Congressional District. You can visit my website at pence.house.gov to learn more about how I am representing you in Congress.
Sincerely, Greg Pence Member of Congress |