Yesterday, Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) voted against two bills authored by House Democrats that would curtail the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. Following his votes against the two bills—H.R. 8, the Universal Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act—Congressman McHenry released the following statement:

"The right to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, yet Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats continue their efforts to take it away from the American people," said Congressman McHenry. "We need laws that promote public safety and protect our Second Amendment rights, not legislation like H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 that turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals."

H.R. 8 would criminalize the transfer of firearms between two private citizens and therefore punish law-abiding citizens who are trying to offer someone they know protection and assistance. H.R. 1446 prolongs the process of purchasing a firearm, adding a layer of Washington red-tape and delay for those who need immediate access to a firearm for protection.

Earlier this year, Congressman McHenry again joined as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a commonsense bill introduced by fellow North Carolina Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-08). This bill would protect law-abiding gun owners by clarifying the law, allowing people with a concealed carry license or permit to legally carry a concealed handgun across state lines as long as they follow the laws of the state. Congressman McHenry has been an original cosponsor of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act every year it has been introduced.