The Jeff Davis County Democratic Party supports the right of every American to own and bear arms as delineated in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is part of our heritage as Texans and Americans to own firearms to protect our families, homes, and properties. 

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We support the ownership of firearms for personal protection, hunting, target competitions, and other recreational endeavors. As responsible owners of firearms, we want to preserve these rights while implementing prudent safeguards to prevent random gun violence, needless suicides, senseless mass murders, tragic accidents, and interpersonal violence. 

 

Therefore, we support prudent safeguards like universal background checks, red flag laws, appropriate waiting periods for gun purchases, and the compilation of a registry of people with a history of violence or domestic abuse. The NRA is right. Guns don’t kill people, people with guns kill people! 

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Moving Toward Solutions

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The first meaningful gun violence reduction legislation in 30 years was accomplished last year when the Biden administration brought together Democrats and Republicans to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The legislation took important steps, including requiring people under 21 to undergo enhanced background checks, closing the “boyfriend loophole,” and providing funding to address youth mental health.

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The administration has moved decisively to combat gun violence – issuing dozens of executive orders. President Biden’s nominee for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, became the first Senate-confirmed director of the agency in more than 7 years.

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Early on, the administration took on the gun lobby to rein in the proliferation of ghost guns. The manufacture of ghost gun kits was banned, and the sale of ghost guns without a background check was outlawed. 

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Still, much remains to be done to stem the tide of gun violence, and bipartisan commitment from both major political parties is essential.