WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats blocked a vote today on an amendment offered by Senator Lee (R-UT) to create a budget point of order against any future legislation that restricts the rights of Americans to own a firearm.  This amendment re-affirmed the importance of the 2nd Amendment.  It also requires that additional consideration should be given before passing legislation that alters one of our fundamental constitutional rights.

This legislation would apply to the following examples:

• Bans on so called “assault weapons”

• Bans on high capacity magazines

• Universal background checks that can only be enforced by a national registry

• Establishment of a registry to track firearm purchases

• Imposing a de facto ban on gun sales to veterans

This point of order could be waived by a 2/3 majority of the Senate.

"Americans are appalled by criminal acts of mass violence,” Sen. Lee said.  “However, Americans also recognize that there are limits to the problems that can be solved with new legislation.  The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution protects citizens’ rights to defend their own life, the lives of their loved ones, and the lives of the most vulnerable.  This right speaks to history’s lesson that government cannot be in all places at all times, and history’s warning that we would not like to live under a government that tried.  Government registration of firearms presents a threat to our 2nd Amendment rights.  Such a registry would be no less offensive than one monitoring how individual citizens exercise their rights to free speech, association, religion, or any other constitutional right.”