Blumenthal: Judge Barrett’s Approach to the Second Amendment Threatens to Strike Down Commonsense Gun Violence Measures
Blumenthal shared stories of Connecticut residents, communities of color impacted by gun violence
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today at the final day of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) expressed deep concerns about Barrett’s approach toward the Second Amendment and shared stories from people across Connecticut who would be impacted by efforts to roll back gun violence prevention measures.
“My impression about originalism is that it is often used as a smoke screen by activist judges who want to legislate from the bench,” said Blumenthal. “They want to substitute their own judgments for the legislature’s. My concern, one of them, about Judge Barrett is that her opinion in Kanter indicates an approach, a very active one to the Second Amendment, that would very possibly strike down common sense gun violence measures such as background checks, emergency risk protection orders, safe storage laws like Ethan’s Law in Connecticut, and other measures that are designed to stem and stop gun violence.”
Blumenthal emphasized his concern for people across Connecticut who have been impacted by gun violence, including “Janet Rice, who is still grieving her son Shane Oliver. Natalie Barden, who is still mourning for her brother who was killed in Newtown. And the Songs, Kristin and Michael, who still have a hole in their heart for their son Ethan.” Blumenthal continued, “Every neighborhood, every family, every community is vulnerable to the scourge and epidemic of gun violence. It’s a public health menace.”
Blumenthal questioned Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, on the impact Judge Barrett’s position on the Second Amendment would have on commonsense gun violence prevention measures.
Clarke replied: “I am deeply concerned, Senator, that she would put her thumb on the scale of providing more access and easy access to guns in our country.”
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