The 110th and 111th Congresses - both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate - were held by large majorities of Democrats. From 2007 through 2011, the legislative agenda of Congress was controlled by those on the left side of the political aisle who most loudly demanded gun controls.
Were there any gun restrictions or limiting proposals put forward during this four-year window?
Robin SmithThe 111th Congress was constitutionally seated in January 2009, and President Barack Obama was inaugurated. For two years, Democrats had complete control and unfettered legislative authority in making laws in the United States of America.
Were there any proposals to limit access to guns from 2009 through 2011? Were there any reforms for licensure, mental health considerations, etc.?
The answer is no to all.
Let's look at shootings and terrorist attacks that occurred during the 111th Congress with Obama as president. A two-year window of time existed in which major reforms regarding gun control could have been enacted without any Republican obstruction.
* March 29, 2009 - Eight people died in a shooting in a Carthage, N.C., nursing home.
* April 3, 2009 - Thirteen people were killed and four were wounded in a shooting at an immigration center in Binghamton, N.Y.
* June 1, 2009 - Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad shot and killed Army Pvt. William Long and injured a second person at a Little Rock, Ark., Army-Navy Career Center.
* June 10, 2009 - One guard, Stephen Johns, died in a shooting attack at the Holocaust Museum.
* Nov. 5, 2009 - Forty-three people were shot by Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. Thirteen died.
* March 4, 2010 - John Bodell wounded two Pentagon police officers when he shot them at a security checkpoint outside the Pentagon.
* Aug. 3, 2010 - Omar S. Thornton shot and killed nine, injuring two more, in Manchester, Conn., in a shoplifting attempt.
* Sept. 1, 2010 - James Lee held three hostages at gunpoint at Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Springs, Md. The gunman was killed by police.
* Sept. 17, 2010 - An attempted shooting occurred at the U.S. Capitol, with guards injuring the gunman by return gunfire.
* Jan. 8, 2011 - Then-U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot in the head by 22-year-old Jared Loughner at a Safeway market in Tucson. Six people died.
* Sept. 6, 2011 - Eduardo Sencion shot 12 people dining in an IHOP, killing four, including three National Guard members.
* October 14, 2011 - Eight people died in a shooting at Salon Meritage hair salon in Seal Beach, Calif.
One must conclude that the Democrats, who continue to blame guns for deaths rather than the individuals who operate them (a radical Islamist terrorist, in the case of the Orlando terrorist attack), either 1) are happy to keep the gun control issue alive as a "crisis" that adds funding to their coffers at each and every "sit-in," 2) are truly ineffective, or 3) know the truth of their unconstitutional intents.
The safety of Americans continues to be in jeopardy as radical Islamist terrorists attack us on our soil. The growth in crime against persons and property, such as occurs on a daily basis in Chattanooga, adds to the legitimate concern that citizens have.
Removing one's right to defend person and property perpetuates the lie that guns are at fault instead of criminals, and that lie must end.
Robin Smith, a former chairwoman of the Tennessee Republican Party, is owner of Rivers Edge Alliance.