Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, berated Republicans in the House Rules Committee for blocking his two amendments to the GOP-sponsored H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.  The first amendment, which Nadler offered with Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), would prevent known or suspected terrorists from carrying concealed firearms across state lines.  The second amendment would prohibit convicted sex offenders of children from carrying concealed firearms in states which outlaw such conduct.

“It’s quite shocking that my Republican colleagues are backing a ‘gun rights’ bill which would both increase the presence of dangerous weapons in our communities and decrease states’ rights to regulate such weapons,” said Nadler.  “Last night, Republicans in the Rules Committee blocked House consideration of amendments restricting the use of concealed weapons among sex offenders of children and terrorists.  This is patently absurd.  Are the supposed ‘gun rights’ of predators and terrorists more sacrosanct than the safety of children and law-abiding Americans?”

“The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act is irresponsible legislation which undermines states’ ability to control concealed weapons within its borders,” said Cicilline.  “By blocking consideration of these amendments, the GOP has recklessly preserved a pathway for some of the most dangerous individuals, including known or suspected terrorists, to conceal and carry firearms across state lines.”

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