When Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas commented on Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., use of firearms during a congressional hearing, Steube did not hesitate to snap back, telling her “I’m at my house. I can do whatever I want” and put her right back in place.
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During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Democratic “Protect Our Kids” package, Steube, who attended the hearing digitally from his own home, gave several examples of firearms in his own personal collection that the Democratic bill would ban.
This hearing was about an expansive piece of gun control legislation that Democrats argue is common sense, while Republicans say it is overly broad and unconstitutional.
“Here’s a gun I carry every single day to protect myself, my family, my wife and my home,” said Steube.
Holding two magazines and attempting to insert the latter into the firearm, he said: “This is an XL Sig Sauer P365. It comes with a 15-round magazine. Here’s a seven-round magazine, which would be less than what would be lawful under this bill if this bill were to become law.”
“It doesn’t fit, so this gun would be banned,” Steube said.
“I hope that gun is not loaded,” Lee then interjected, per report.
“I’m at my house. I can do whatever I want with my guns,” shot back Steube.
This happened hours before President Biden is scheduled to urge Congress to pass the bill and to address the nation on mass shootings.
After a pair of mass shootings killed 31 people in recent weeks, the renewed push for gun control legislation was needed. In a racially-motivated mass shooting in New York in early April, ten Americans were killed, and at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school, 19 children and two teachers were killed last week.
During Biden’s address, he is expected to appeal to Republicans. However, he has discounted some Republicans as unreasonable on the issue.
Biden said that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is among the “reasonable ones.”
“As a nation, we have to ask, when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name, will we do what we know in our gut what needs to be done?” said Biden last week.
“We have to act. Don’t tell me we can’t have an impact on this carnage,” Biden added.
Biden is also under fire for saying the Second Amendment is not absolute.
So the idea of these high-caliber weapons is of — there’s simply no rational basis for it in terms of thinking about self-protection, hunting. I mean, I just — and remember, the Constitution, the Second Amendment was never absolute. You couldn’t buy a cannon when the Second Amendment was passed. You couldn’t go out and purchase a lot of weapons.
And those who — not many are saying it anymore, but there was a while there where people were saying that, you know, the Tree of Liberty is watered with the blood of patriots, and what we have to do is you have to be able to take on the government when they’re wrong. Well, to do that, you need an F-15, you know? Or you need an Abrams tank.
I mean — so, it’s just — as I say, I think thing — I think things have gotten so bad that everybody is getting more rational about it. At least that’s my hope and prayer.