Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell pledged to be an advocate for gun owners on Capitol Hill if Republicans capture the Senate in the fall election and he becomes the next majority.
Mr. McConnell told the crowd that turned out for the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting in Indianapolis that the Obama administration is trying to trample over the constitutional rights of everyday Americans and that if he becomes majority leader he will do everything in his power to defend the Second Amendment.
“They are trying to burn the rights of those they disagree with,” the Kentucky Republican said. “Whether it is your right to bear arms or it is your right to speak up without fear of government intimidation.”
Mr. McConnell, who faces a primary challenges from Louisville businessman Matt Bevin, said that the Second Amendment is also under attack from others and pointed to the decision of a New York newspaper to post an online database of local gun-permit owners in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 children and six staffers dead.
Mr. McConnell said he supports Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso’s push to prevent that from happening again.
“You should all know, for sure, if I am given the opportunity to lead a new Senate majority next year, I will work with John Barrasso to advance this important idea,” Mr. McConnell said. “The reason for that is the privacy of law-abiding gun owners needs to be protected.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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