In an open letter to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, a group of more than 100 Democratic House members have said they would oppose any gun-related rider provisions in appropriations bills. “Given the renewed national focus on gun violence prevention, now is not the time to include controversial appropriations riders that negatively impact gun laws,” read the statement. “Instead, such changes to gun policy must be seriously and properly considered by Congress through the regular order.”
Of course, NRA members are more than capable of keeping up with Second Amendment legislation no matter what form it takes. While these House Democrats imply that gun riders are really a legislative back door used to reduce transparency, appropriations bills are quite logical vehicles for protecting the Second Amendment. After all, American voters have an interest in tracking where their tax dollars go, and they should be able to feel confident that their money will not end up funding expensive, do-nothing gun control programs.
