Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Congress Wants Answers - Gerry Wants Attention

Monday, July 29, 2024

Congress Wants Answers - Gerry Wants Attention

While most Americans were still desperately trying to figure out how the failed assassination attempt on President Donald Trump (R) came so shockingly close to being successful, at least one rabidly anti-gun extremist in Congress saw an opportunity to try to exploit the situation to promote himself and his agenda to eradicate the Second Amendment.

The vast majority of the general public have no idea who Gerry Connolly (D) is; at least, not before he made a disgusting spectacle of himself during a recent hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability.  During the intense grilling faced by now-former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle over nearly five hours of testimony, most Congressmen and Congresswomen asked about matters relating to security measures specific either to the rally in Pennsylvania or President Trump.

Not Gerry.

The Representative from Northern Virginia decided this hearing was the perfect time to try to rail against firearms, and he tried in every way he could to browbeat the former director into agreeing with him that guns in the hands of American citizens represents a danger that creates a disadvantage to the Secret Service as it tries to do its job of protecting certain individuals—generally government officials and some former officials, like President Trump.

To Cheatle’s credit, she did not play along with Gerry’s game.  She may have failed to adequately respond to numerous legitimate Secret Service operational questions, leading to condemnation from both sides of the aisle and her ultimate resignation.  But her ignoring a not-so-thinly-veiled attack on the Constitution by an unhinged opportunist should be lauded.

The Virginia Democrat mentioned “the ubiquity of weapons, guns in America,” and sarcastically asked Cheatle if they “helped your job, and the mission of your agencies (sic)…?”  She responded, understandably, “I’m sorry, I’m not understanding your question.”

Suddenly, Gerry realized he didn’t have just another Harris-Biden administration patsy who would spew out boilerplate anti-gun talking points like they usually do:  He became noticeably agitated.

He started treating her as a prosecutor would a hostile witness, badgering her again and again with “questions” designed to illicit a response that would be damaging to the Second Amendment.  Gerry became increasingly upset he could not get the response he wanted, and resorted to condescension—both in his tone and the words he used—referring to how he used “simple English,” asked “a simple question,“ and he “deserves a simple answer.”

Every time Cheatle tried to respond to the obviously leading questions that were crafted to produce an answer that would denigrate firearms and Americans having access to them, Gerry cut her off before she could say what appeared to be something he didn’t want to hear.

Cheatle even—again, to her credit—seemingly tried to defend our right to arms, beginning one response with, “I understand the Second Amendment rights of individuals…” before Gerry cut her off yet again.

Time and time again, the obscure Representative made disparaging comments about guns and their “ubiquity”—always using an odd, almost British pronunciation of the word for some reason—and referred to so-called “assault weapons,” semi-automatics, and, most frequently, AR-15s.  All Gerry could focus on was the type of firearm that was allegedly used in the attempt on Trump’s life.  He had no concern over any of the numerous apparent failures in procedures and protection at the event that allowed a seemingly deranged individual to take several shots; the first of which nearly killed the former president.  And while Gerry tried to focus on the semi-automatic AR-15—likely because he thinks focusing on America’s most popular rifle that he has repeatedly called to ban helps his anti-gun crusade—he ignored the fact that it was only the first shot that came close to taking Trump’s life.

And if his desire to ban AR-15s is based on its semi-automatic operation, irrespective of the theory that only the first shot truly endangered Trump, then he must also want to ban all semi-automatic rifles—contrary to what those who call for banning AR-15s claim.  Common hunting rifles like the Remington 742, Browning BAR, and Benelli R1—just to name a few—all operate as semi-automatics, so they must all be on Gerry’s list to ban.

The hearing was just another example that some in Washington will never miss an opportunity to advocate for extreme gun control, not matter how serious that actual purpose of the hearing.

TRENDING NOW
U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Last Chance for Gun Owners to Ask U.S. House to Amend the Reconciliation Bill

News  

Monday, May 19, 2025

Last Chance for Gun Owners to Ask U.S. House to Amend the Reconciliation Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives has another chance to amend the current Reconciliation Bill making its way through Congress. The Reconciliation Bill would currently rescind the unconstitutional tax on suppressors, but it doesn’t remove them ...

Trump DOJ Settles Lawsuits Involving Forced Reset Triggers

News  

Monday, May 19, 2025

Trump DOJ Settles Lawsuits Involving Forced Reset Triggers

On Friday, May 16, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the settlement of several lawsuits arising from the Biden-Harris regime’s attempt to reclassify forced reset triggers (FRTs) as “machineguns.” DOJ’s announcement cited President Trump’s Executive Order Protecting ...

NRA Statement on House Passage of Reconciliation Bill

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

NRA Statement on House Passage of Reconciliation Bill

"This morning, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which includes the complete removal of suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA). This represents a monumental victory for Second Amendment ...

Clueless Anti-gun Democrats Dig Themselves an Ever Deeper Hole

Monday, May 19, 2025

Clueless Anti-gun Democrats Dig Themselves an Ever Deeper Hole

Anyone reading the firearm-related news these days is reminded that anti-gun Democrats appear oblivious to the blunt message sent by millions of American voters last fall. Despite Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris blowing through a mountain ...

House Committee on Ways and Means Advances Legislation Involving Suppressors

News  

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

House Committee on Ways and Means Advances Legislation Involving Suppressors

Early this morning, The House Committee on Ways & Means, led by Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO-08) finished a markup of their section of the Reconciliation Bill. Included in this legislation was a provision which would ...

Another Court Determines Magazines Aren’t “Arms” in Upholding Arbitrary Limits

News  

Monday, May 19, 2025

Another Court Determines Magazines Aren’t “Arms” in Upholding Arbitrary Limits

Last week, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the state’s ban on magazines that hold over ten rounds, overturning a lower court order that had deemed it unconstitutional. The 7-2 decision in State v. Gator’s Custom ...

Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

News  

Friday, March 21, 2025

Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

On March 20, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an interim final rule entitled, Withdrawing the Attorney General’s Delegation of Authority. That bland title belies the historic nature of the measure, which is aimed at reviving ...

Is Hogg’s time up at the DNC?

News  

Monday, May 19, 2025

Is Hogg’s time up at the DNC?

The last time we mentioned David Hogg, he had been selected to be a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and wasted no time making some (many?) regret that choice. Why? Because one of ...

Rocky Times for Gun Owners in the Rocky Mountain State

News  

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Rocky Times for Gun Owners in the Rocky Mountain State

As the Colorado legislative session closes, its 2025 edition will long be remembered and lamented as a historic assault on the Second Amendment.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.