‘GARRETT’S LAW’ TREATING AIRGUNS LIKE FIREARMS AN EXTREMIST IDEA, SAYS CCRKBA
BELLEVUE, WA – A proposed federal law treating airguns as firearms is an extremist idea which reveals the true intentions of anti-gunners is to ultimately ban anything even resembling a gun, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said.
Democratic Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15) is sponsoring “Garrett’s Law,” which would require background checks, and place airgun regulation under the control of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“Congressman Kevin Mullin is adding a new definition to the term ‘California Dreamin’,” said CCRKBA Executive Director Andrew Gottlieb. “While we certainly recognize the tragedy of a suicide by one of Mullin’s constituents, it does not merit the overreaction of an anti-gun-rights member of Congress looking for a headline five weeks before the midterm election. Let’s recognize this for what it really is, a publicity stunt aimed at law-abiding citizens and their youngsters, many of whom begin a lifetime of safety education by learning basic rules while handling, shooting and owning airguns, which are not firearms.
“The fact that Mullin’s bill already has the support of gun prohibition lobbying groups tells us everything we need to know about it,” Gottlieb added. “They claim this is bill represents common sense, but in reality it is nonsense.
“Mullin’s news release acknowledges the mental health struggles of Garrett Edwards, for whom this bill is named,” he noted. “Instead of demonizing airguns, and penalizing everyone else in the country who would own one, Mullin’s energies would be far better used to promote improved mental health services for people like Edwards.
“This bill is one more assault on gun owners and their children,” Gottlieb stated. “Airguns are not firearms, they should not be treated like firearms, and people who want to own them should not be treated like criminals, subjected to background checks, waiting periods and other restrictions placed on gun owners. We don’t want to trivialize what Garrett Edwards did, but we don’t want to see his tragedy exploited, either.”
