Good guys with guns stop bad guys with guns. This basic truth is not politically correct, and the media tries to deny it. Liberal elitists in Washington will never understand it as they exploit horrible tragedies and devise more schemes to restrict our gun rights. But the reality is: No matter how many laws and regulations there are, there will always be evil people intent on harming others. The best way to stop evil people is to protect the constitutional right of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves and their families.
When we learned the news out of Sutherland Springs, Texas, my heart broke. I continue to pray for those families who lost loved ones, those hurt and those first responders on the scene. I am also thankful a good guy with a gun was close by to stop the evil man. That day in Texas, National Rifle Association instructor Stephen Willeford was the good guy with the gun that stopped that evil monster.
Recently, here in Shelbyville, Indiana, an 84-year old man confronted armed burglars on his property with a shotgun. After exchanging fire, the armed criminals retreated and were later arrested. If Washington liberals had their way, this man would be a victim. Instead, bad guys are behind bars and a law-abiding senior citizen has his life and his property. The liberal gun control crowd finds incidents like the one in Shelbyville appalling. Wait for the police, they say. That is not always realistic. There are thousands of examples every year of courageous law-abiding gun owners stopping armed criminals.
As important as the Second Amendment is to protect ourselves from those who wish us harm, it is also important to protect our Constitutional rights from an overreaching government. In the United States, we have a rule of law and a civil society, where people can debate and disagree, while maintaining peaceful transfer of power as a result of elections. We have reason to be optimistic that these freedoms can last for many generations to come, but we cannot take them for granted. Ultimately, the reason there is a United States, and the reason we will remain a free republic, is because of an armed, law-abiding populace deterring the government from becoming a threat to our liberty.
Big government elites are intent on restricting our Second Amendment rights and confiscating the guns of law-abiding Americans, so conservatives and liberty-loving Americans cannot rest. I am thankful President Donald Trump is in the White House, Vice President Pence is at his side and Neil Gorsuch is on the Supreme Court. But they need help. Americans must continue to stand up for our constitution and our God-given rights.
The gun control lobby and billionaire elites have an ally in Senator Joe Donnelly. He may claim to be on the side of law-abiding gun owners, but Hoosiers will not be fooled. Donnelly supported President Barack Obama’s unconstitutional gun control schemes back in 2013. Just like on so many issues, Donnelly tells us one thing here in Indiana, then goes to Washington and sides with the liberal elites. Hoosiers are tired of having a senator who doesn’t represent our values.
In the U.S. Senate, I will always say what I mean and mean what I say. Today, I will give you my word: I will always defend Hoosiers’ God-given Second Amendment rights.
Congressman Todd Rokita represents Indiana’s 4th Congressional District and is a candidate for the U.S. Senate.