When it came to guns in the Capitol, Democrats blinked.
On Sunday, as Democratic majority convened the 117th Congress, 21 liberal Democrats, led by California Rep. Jared Huffman, had asked House leaders, including Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, to implement a ban on guns in the Capitol.
The issue arose after newly elected Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a staunch gun rights’ advocate, asked if she could tote her Glock on Capitol Hill.
Her request would be illegal in the District of Columbia. But since 1967, members of Congress are permitted to carry guns under certain circumstances.
Still, the Democrats who opposed Boebert claimed it was just too dangerous to let her or others carry guns.
On Sunday, according to Cam Edwards, a columnist for BearingArms.com, the proposed ban sought by Huffman and the other 20 Democrats was excluded from the rules offered to govern conduct in Congress for the next two years.
As Edwards wrote, “It appears that Pelosi will keep her focus on restricting the Second Amendment rights of gun owners who aren’t members of Congress, at least for now.”
In a statement, Boebert explained the rationale behind why she asked the U.S. Capitol Police about her weapon: “I refuse to give up my Second Amendment rights. I’m a 5-foot tall, 100-pound mom with four children and will be walking to work and serving in one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. I choose to defend my family and my life with all of the force the Constitution provides. I will not let a bunch of gun-grabbing House Democrats take away my Constitutional right to protect myself.”
One reason that Boebert prevailed, perhaps, was that 82 other lawmakers signed a letter urging Pelosi and McCarthy to retain the current rules.
In their letter, the lawmakers wrote, “The current regulations allowing Members of Congress to carry have helped protect these Members and their Second Amendment rights since 1967.”
“There are substantial precedents for this type of regulation throughout the U.S. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, more than two dozen states allow guns in capitol buildings,” they added.
Continuing, they noted, “Washington, D.C. has a violent crime problem, and D.C.’s violent crime rate is 158% higher than the national average. In 2020 alone, there have been more than 180 homicides, more than 1,500 assaults with a deadly weapon, and more than 1,800 robberies.”
They also referenced the “history of violent attacks” on lawmakers, including in 2017 when a supporter of democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders shot at Republicans practicing baseball for the annual Democrats vs. Republicans game. Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise nearly died in the attack.
In concluding their letter, the lawmakers wrote, “Members need to be able to protect themselves once the Member is in the public space/street and out of the protective care of the Capitol Police. If the current regulations are changed, the Member will be at risk of physical assault and real danger, especially after voicing views of his or her constituents that may not be held by others physically present in Washington D.C.”
“Protecting the safety and lives of Members of Congress is of the utmost concern and isn’t a partisan issue. We ask that you stand with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle that support the lawful and current Capitol Police Board regulations that have existed for more than half a century.”
Some of the more high-profile GOP members who signed the letter to support Boebert were Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Louie Gohmert of Texas, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.