The Patriot Post® · Dems Make Gun List, Check It Twice

“Progressives” are never done making “progress.” If they can get a foot in the door, beware.

Such is the case for gun rights protected by the Second Amendment this week, as House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to block people from buying guns if they voluntarily agree to be put on a federally controlled list. Democrats love playing Santa Claus, but making this list and checking it twice is a bit much.

One could perhaps argue in favor of the stated motivation behind the bill, which is to help prevent suicide. If someone is contemplating taking his own life, it’s best that he not have access to guns. More than 25,000 Americans (mostly older white men) take their own lives with a firearm each year.

“My bill,” explained author Pramila Jayapal, “would create a new tool that gives people experiencing the challenging swings of mental health illness to have the power to proactively and voluntarily protect themselves by putting themselves on a do-not-sell list for a firearm.” It’s a federal red flag law to flag yourself.

However, Democrats hate the Second Amendment and want to repeal it. So forgive us if we don’t trust their real motivation.

Republicans don’t either. “Do we really need a federal statue to permit a person to volunteer to give up their fundamental liberty?” asked Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan. “That’s what this bill does.”

“Mental health is important, we all understand that, especially as it relates to suicide, but this … I mean, really? This is what we’re going to do?” he added. “I think this again is just another attack from the Democrats on the Second Amendment.”

Indeed it is because, again, Democrats never stop. They might begin with something seemingly benign like this and before you know it, this list will be insufficient and they’ll want to expand it to a full-blown national registry.

Another thing to think about: How long until propaganda about this effort makes its way into schools? What better way to reduce the number of future gun owners than by convincing volatile and hormonal teenagers that they shouldn’t ever own guns and that the Nanny State will help them protect themselves?

Joe Biden spent plenty of time on the stump this fall boasting about gun legislation Democrats managed to get through Congress this year, while simultaneously demanding more. He did so again yesterday at the 10th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence. “Together, we made some important progress,” he said, with the “most significant gun law passed in 30 years.” But, he added, it’s “still not enough.”

Specifically, he wants another ban on semiautomatic rifles with certain scary cosmetic features. He and other leftists dishonestly label this most popular type of rifle in America an “assault weapon.”

Democrats often justify gun-grabbing by saying, “If it saves just one life…” Well, here’s a couple of hypotheticals. What if someone fears she might one day terminate the life of an inconvenient baby? Can she save a life by putting herself on a “no abortions” list? What if a teen who’s having suicidal thoughts because of gender dysphoria wants to put himself on a “no puberty blockers” list?

Abortion and messing with biological sex aren’t even constitutional rights, yet the same Democrats who would caterwaul to the heavens over those hypothetical lists somehow have no problem creating one to deprive someone of their actual constitutional rights.

We all want to stop the scourge of suicide, but there are better ways to do it.