Lawmakers weigh in on Pres. Obama's executive action to curb gun violence

"President Obama is again disregarding the Constitutional principles of separation of powers and exceeding his authority as Chief Executive. The Obama Administration issued guidance creating uncertainty and fear of prosecution for law-abiding citizens who wish to exercise their right to sell firearms lawfully.  Forthcoming federal rules could also deprive millions of Americans of their Second Amendment rights without any indication of imminent danger.

I have asked the Attorney General to review this proposed rule language as soon as it is made available and, if issued as reported, to take any and all legal measures available to challenge this illegal act."

"From day one, the president has never respected the right to safe and legal gun ownership that our nation has valued since its founding. He knows full well that the law already says that people who make their living selling firearms must be licensed, regardless of venue. Still, rather than focus on criminals and terrorists, he goes after the most law-abiding of citizens. His words and actions amount to a form of intimidation that undermines liberty.

"No matter what President Obama says, his word does not trump the Second Amendment. We will conduct vigilant oversight. His executive order will no doubt be challenged in the courts. Ultimately, everything the president has done can be overturned by a Republican president, which is another reason we must win in November.

"We know that the president wants to spend this year offering distractions from his failed record. We will not allow this strategy to take us off course from giving the American people a clear choice with a bold policy agenda."

"After years of political obstacles and partisan gridlock on the part of congressional Republicans, President Barack Obama is moving forward with a series of sensible executive actions aimed at curbing our nation’s gun violence epidemic. I enthusiastically welcome this practical and measured response to the ongoing inaction in the House and Senate that has compromised the safety of communities across the United States.

"I applaud the president for taking steps within his executive authority to stand against the powerful gun lobby and the right-wing ideologues they support. My House colleagues and I have worked to comprehensively address the mass violence that has plagued our country through the legislative process, but unfortunately, groups like the National Rifle Association have poured millions of dollars into blocking any such efforts. Simply put, Congress has ducked this critical issue for far too long. The time for action is upon us.

"Republicans will undoubtedly paint these reasonable actions as an attack against the Second Amendment, but nothing could be farther from the truth. On the contrary, this move by President Obama will help defend the rights of law abiding gun owners and responsible gun dealers from those who abuse and exploit our current system. Through common-sense measures like background checks, increased funding for more ATF agents, and strengthened domestic violence outreach efforts, we can make great strides in making our country a safer place to live and thrive. In addition to these executive actions, I call on representatives from both parties to enact meaningful reform that will prevent guns from ending up in dangerous hands."

“The President’s aversion to gun rights and the Second Amendment has been blatantly clear throughout his tenure, as has his disregard for the checks and balances on power put in place by our Founding Fathers. Nothing he outlined today would have prevented any of the horrific tragedies perpetrated by bad actors in recent months. Instead of inflicting burdensome and repetitive government regulations on law-abiding gun owners, the President must work with Congress to not only identify the root causes of gun violence in this country, but also to find and implement real, Constitutional solutions.”

“Families across our state and our county have been devastated by an epidemic of gun violence. Just in Milwaukee alone, we had 125 gun-related homicides last year, and we already have one homicide in the first days of 2016.

“As elected officials, we have a duty to keep our communities as safe and secure as possible from gun violence. However, lives continue to be lost to violent shootings at a shockingly record pace, and elected officials across our state and our nation continue to turn a blind eye to this tragic and growing epidemic.

“Last year, I led a group of 27 Wisconsin state legislators in calling on the White House to investigate and pursue all possible options under executive authority to reduce gun violence. I applaud President Obama for not only hearing our voices – but those across the nation who have been impacted by the scourge of gun violence – by deciding to use his executive powers to shrink deadly loopholes and protect our communities.

“While it’s clear that Republicans in Congress and here in Wisconsin have no intention of standing up to special interests who want to maintain the status quo, I will continue to fight for real and immediate action to prevent unnecessary and menacing gun violence from spreading any further across Wisconsin and our nation.”