The U.S. Senate this morning confirmed Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court on a mostly partisan 54-45 vote.
Confirmation of Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s selection to fill the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, returns the court to a majority of members who see the Second Amendment as protecting an individual right to keep and bear arms.
“On behalf of our 5 million members, the NRA congratulates Neil Gorsuch on his confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA executive director. “Gorsuch is an excellent choice to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Justice Scalia.”
Gorsuch’s confirmation turned contentious when Democrats took the unprecedented step of filibustering the nomination yesterday. That forced Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Tenn., to use the “nuclear option,” voting to let a simple majority decide the confirmation issue.
The Supreme Court was one of the reasons many NRA members and other gun owners strongly supported Donald Trump in November’s election, fearing what kind of justice Hillary Clinton might put on the high court.
“The NRA would like to thank President Trump for fulfilling his campaign promise to place a pro-Second Amendment justice on the Supreme Court,” Cox said. “Nominating Gorsuch has again demonstrated President Trump’s unwavering support for our fundamental right to self-defense.”
Cox added that the NRA applauds McConnell, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, for their leadership in Gorsuch’s confirmation.
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