Austin News

Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) criticized the efforts of Democrats to punish law-abiding gun owners under the guise of public health. Speaking as the Ranking Member, Cornyn emphasized the importance of effective criminal law enforcement in reducing firearm-related homicides and assaults.

"We have a trust issue and a constitutional issue when we use the public health approach to attempt to strip away core constitutional rights," Cornyn stated. He argued that empowering law enforcement to selectively investigate and prosecute repeat offenders is the most effective solution to reducing gun violence in communities.

Cornyn also highlighted the impact of his Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which has made significant strides in combating firearm trafficking and improving mental health care. "The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act's new criminal penalties on firearm trafficking have led to more than 100 new charges against dangerous cartel members and firearms traffickers," he revealed.

Furthermore, Cornyn emphasized the importance of addressing mental health in the context of gun violence. He commended the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act for making the single largest investment in community-based mental health care in American history.

Despite acknowledging the need to find common ground and work together, Cornyn cautioned against using public health authorities as an excuse to infringe upon constitutional rights. "Using public health authorities as a blanket excuse to strip away constitutional rights divides us more than it unites us," he warned.

In conclusion, Senator Cornyn stressed the importance of effective criminal law enforcement, investments in community-based mental health care, and targeted measures against firearm trafficking in addressing the issue of gun violence. He urged his colleagues to focus on solutions that respect the rights of law-abiding citizens while effectively combating crime.

The video of Senator Cornyn's remarks can be found [here](insert_link).

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-punishing-law-abiding-citizens-wont-reduce-gun-crimes/