WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Rep Andrew Clyde (R-GA) claimed that Republican leadership in the House told him that “it would be very difficult” to support his Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution aimed at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule on pistols equipped with stabilizing braces if the Congressman refused to support a procedural vote to raise the debt limit.
Rep Clyde refused to back down and vote to raise the debt ceiling, so the resolution appeared dead, but Rep Clyde and the Freedom Caucus teamed up to take on the swamp and call them out. Other liberty-minded Republicans came to his side to help defend him from the power of the majority leadership in the House.
Two of the Republicans that called the Speaker of The House, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), were Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO). Both Republicans launched an attack on the establishment Republicans in power. Both made multiple appearances across the media spectrum, including on Real Americas Voice, where both got animated.
“We really don’t like bullies, and we don’t like when people get picked on,” said Gaetz. “And if you want to see Lauren and I get pretty animated, go pick on one of our colleagues.”
By the Afternoon, after a day of attacks, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) denied Rep Clyde’s resolution against ATF overreach was used as a bargaining chip to get the conservative Republican to back the procedural vote to raise the debt ceiling. He said leadership told Clyde said there would be problems with the resolution passing but never threatened to kill the resolution.
Rep. Scalise said he had worked closely with Rep. Clyde and Richard Hudson (R-NC) to bring the resolution to the floor for a vote and blamed the lack of votes for the delay. Many hoped Congress would act before the new rule took effect on June 1.
“The problem’s been with the vote count. There are some members that aren’t there yet, and we’re working on getting those members there,” Scalise said. “They’re working to get there. We’re trying to get there. We want to pass the bill.”
Rep Clyde took to Twitter late Tuesday to announce that Republican leadership has relented and agreed to bring the resolution to the floor for a vote next Tuesday.
“I will hold them to this promise.”
“And I will never back down in the fight to defend our natural rights.”
Although the bill has a date to come to the floor, its passage is uncertain. Some Republicans are planning on voting against it. One Republican planning to oppose the resolution is Rep Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The Pennsylvania Republican has a history of backing gun control and has taken $25,000 from the Giffords and Brady PACs.
One person in the know said if it weren’t for the pressure of American gun owners, in addition to the work of the Freedom Caucus, the resolution wouldn’t have gotten a vote scheduled. The person encourages gun owners to keep the pressure on leaders and hold them accountable.
The resolution will still face a tough challenge in the Senate, and even if it does make it through, it will most likely be vetoed, but passing the resolution does have a purpose. It shows us which members support gun rights and which are simply pandering to gun owners for votes.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
