Generally, I’m not a fan of purity tests. The idea of someone having to hold certain opinions in order to be considered legitimate is a bit bothersome, in part because I think we can find enough common ground on enough subjects that it’s not helpful to exclude people over minor quibbles.
But when you’re united on something like the Second Amendment, that includes the language “shall not be infringed” in plain text, it’s kind of hard not to engage in a certain degree of purity testing.
For example, if someone opposes constitutional carry in their state, they’re probably not exactly as pro-Second Amendment as they might like.
In fact, one lawmaker recently did just that, and now a bunch of gun rights groups are more than a little miffed.
From a press release:
Today, Pennsylvania Gun Rights (PAGR), Firearms Owners Against Crime (FOAC), and Gun Owners of America–Pennsylvania (GOA-PA) are jointly calling for State Representative Frank Burns (D-Cambria) to immediately resign from the Pennsylvania House Second Amendment Caucus following his decisive vote to kill a Constitutional Carry amendment.
On the floor of the Pennsylvania House, Constitutional Carry came within a single vote of advancing. Rather than standing with gun owners and his own pro-Second Amendment constituents, Rep. Burns voted with anti-gun Philadelphia Democrats to block the amendment—refusing to even allow it to be debated. This action directly undermines the mission of the very caucus he claims to serve.
“Frank Burns can’t have it both ways. You don’t get to carry the Second Amendment banner by day and kill Constitutional Carry by night,” said Craig Storrs, Jr., Executive Director of PAGR. “Gun owners in Cambria County see the betrayal for what it is: Frank Burns is the Gun Control Lobby’s favorite Democrat.”
“His vote was the deciding blow against one of the most critical gun rights reforms of our time,” added Jim Stoker, President of FOAC. “Membership in the Second Amendment Caucus is a privilege earned through action, not political posturing.”
“Rep. Burns’ actions directly contradict the values of the Second Amendment Caucus and the constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians,” said Dr. Val Finnell, State Director of GOA-Pennsylvania. “He must step down or be removed.”
Pennsylvania gun owners expect integrity and accountability from those who claim to defend their rights. Frank Burns violated that trust. He must resign immediately—for the sake of the caucus and the credibility of pro-Second Amendment voices in Harrisburg.
One vote.
Pennsylvania gun owners were just one vote from seeing constitutional carry pass their state House. That’s heartbreaking for them.
But the fact that someone with the gall to be part of the Second Amendment Caucus in the state is that one vote is beyond ridiculous.
The Second Amendment shouldn’t be a partisan issue. I love to see pro-gun Democrats because it restores at least a little bit of my faith in the system as a whole. For one to vote against such an important bill tells you just how pro-gun he actually is.
Burns should not be part of such a caucus if he doesn’t believe in the Second Amendment. Part of that belief can and should include the fact that “shall not be infringed” means exactly that.
If he can’t make that commitment, then this demand is entirely reasonable.
If he can, then he needs to explain why he didn’t when it actually mattered.
We’re all sick of politicians who say they support the Second Amendment when they don’t. I suspect that Burns is more anti-gun control than pro-gun, meaning that he’ll oppose new gun control laws all day long, but won’t expand gun rights. As I wrote over at our sister site Townhall, that’s not good enough anymore.
Read the full article here
