Joe Walsh at Huntley Area Tea Party Gun Control Forum.
A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:
Rep. Walsh Challenges Brady Campaign
I invite Acting President Dennis Henigan to debate me, in my district, regarding the 2nd Amendment
WASHINGTON –Today, Representative Joe Walsh (IL-8) sent a letter to Acting President Dennis Henigan of the Brady Campaign, a pro-gun law and anti-Second Amendment organization, in response to the Brady Campaign’s release regarding the Congressman’s statements from an October 3, 2011 letter. Congressman Walsh sent a letter to clarify his beliefs and the basis for them after the Brady Campaign’s release drew false and illogical conclusions from the Congressman’s statements.
Walsh stated: “There has been a back and forth between myself and the Brady Campaign concerning the importance of gun rights and how they are being disregarded, particularly in Illinois. I stand by my original statements and want to give more detail and clarification in order to avoid further misinterpretation.
“As I previously stated, our freedom was gained and will always be maintained by a strict interpretation of our Constitution and this includes the Second Amendment. Illinois is the only state in the country that denies its citizens their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Our Founding Fathers included the Right to Bear Arms so that citizens would never be deprived of the ability to stand up and defend ourselves against those who would deprive us of our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
“I believe in our democratic process and proudly serve as a Representative because of it. I believe in the rule of law, and the ability of our citizenry to effectively address our grievances within that rule of law. However, should this democratic process fail – should the government abuse its power and the Constitution– it was the Founding Fathers’ desire, and our right as Americans, that we not be helpless but be able to fight back when the very existence of fundamental rights are at issue.
“I invite Acting President Dennis Henigan to debate me, in my district, regarding the 2nd Amendment. The Brady Campaign and I have significantly different views on gun ownership and the rights in that regard, but we should not contort or exaggerate those views for political gain.”
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Walsh’s letter is here.