Steve Largent: “Smith and Wesson is but the latest victim of the administration's assault on democracy. The recent so-called voluntary…”

“Smith and Wesson is but the latest victim of the administration's assault on democracy. The recent so-called voluntary agreement by the gun manufacturer follows a familiar script. First, the administration proposed mandatory trigger locks. Then, finding insufficient support among Congress, the people's representatives, the administration turned to ulterior, undemocratic means, to achieve its purpose. They threatened to unleash the full weight of the Federal Government upon the maker of a legal product by suing them into oblivion. Guess what? The maker of the legal product decided to voluntarily do what the administration asked. The administration makes no attempt to conceal the power grab. Last week's Wall Street Journal quoted White House domestic policy advisor, Bruce Reed, as stating the agreement shows that 'the public good does not have to be held hostage to legislative stalemate.' Legislative stalemate? Mr. Reed, it is called democracy. Mr. Speaker, gun legislation has not moved because the majority of the people believe that those who pull the trigger are the ones actually responsible for the outcome, not gun manufacturers or law-abiding citizens who own firearms and use them responsibly. The administration calls this voluntary; I call it extortion.”