Republican Gov. Greg Abbott (TX) blasted President Joe Biden on Sunday over forthcoming executive actions to further restrict gun rights, blasting the Biden announcement as nothing more than a “show” that will not address crime.
“[I]f the president wanted to do something more than show … if the president really wanted to do something substantively, what he really could do by executive order is to eliminate the backlog of complaints that have already been filed about gun crimes that have taken place,” Abbott said on Fox News airwaves, The Hill reported.
The Texas governor emphasized his steadfast support for citizens’ Second Amendment rights, especially “at a time when the United States government and other governments are doing less to defend our fellow Americans.”
“I think that there is no acceptable way that a president by executive order can infringe upon Second Amendment rights or alter Second Amendment rights,” Abbott said.
“Texans and Americans know they need their Second Amendment rights to defend themselves at a time when the United States government and other governments are doing less to defend our fellow Americans, and that is exactly why we should not have any further limitations of our Second Amendment rights,” the Republican added.
Biden on Wednesday previewed six forthcoming “actions” in relation to his expected gun control executive orders.
“President Biden is reiterating his call for Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence,” the White House said in a statement. “Last month, a bipartisan coalition in the House passed two bills to close loopholes in the gun background check system. Congress should close those loopholes and go further, including by closing ‘boyfriend’ and stalking loopholes that currently allow people found by the courts to be abusers to possess firearms, banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, repealing gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and investing in evidence-based community violence interventions. Congress should also pass an appropriate national ‘red flag’ law, as well as legislation incentivizing states to pass ‘red flag’ laws of their own.”
“But this Administration will not wait for Congress to act to take its own steps – fully within the Administration’s authority and the Second Amendment – to save lives,” the Biden administration said, announcing the six new gun control actions, including crackdowns on so-called “ghost guns” and boosting “red flags” laws.
Ahead of the Biden announcement, Abbott boasted of legislation that would make Texas a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State,” potentially offering Texans protection from Biden action cracking down on gun rights.
“This is what I’m seeking for Texas—a law to defy any new federal gun control laws. It will make Texas a Second Amendment Sanctuary State. Legislation is moving in the Texas House and Senate. I look forward to signing it,” Abbott said in a tweet, referencing House Bill 2622.
“Texas state agencies and other political subdivisions would be prohibited from enforcing or providing assistance to federal agencies on any new federal laws, orders, rules or regulations on firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition inside the state,” says a release from Republican Tex Rep. Justin Holland, who introduced the bill.
“I look forward to working with Senator Springer and Governor Abbott on passing the Second Amendment Sanctuary State Act this legislative session,” he wrote. “Now is the time to step up and protect our 2nd Amendment rights in Texas. We can’t rely on the Federal Government to lead on this issue and in reality – they will do vastly more harm than good for gun rights. The State of Texas is now and forever shall be a place of refuge for the 2nd Amendment and our ability to protect ourselves, our families, homes, and businesses.”