John Plumb
JAMESTOWN – The Democratic opponent of Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) is speaking out against following Reed’s comments earlier this week in the wake of the Orlando shooting.
John Plumb (D-Lakewood), who’s running as a candidate for New York’s 23rd Congressional District in this year’s general election, claims that Reed is continuing a record of undermining the safety of New Yorkers, this time by not supporting legislation that would prevent known suspected terrorist from legally buying guns in the United States.
Plumb is citing a recent news article in which Reed again refused to support a plan sponsored by New York Republican Peter King that would close the current loophole that allows individuals on the government’s No Fly List – identified by Plumb as “suspected terrorists” – to legally buy guns in the U.S.
In a media release sent out by the Plumb campaign, the Navy Reserve Commander and self-described avid hunter said he has no interest taking away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
“This common sense proposal does no such thing,” Plumb said. “This is about keeping weapons out of the hands of suspected terrorists – something even the NRA agrees should be one piece to a much larger response to fighting our enemies abroad and at home.”
Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)
Plumb added that Reed’s latest comments follows a trend that he alleges compromises the safety of Americans. Plum points out that in March of 2015, Reed broke with his fellow GOP members in New York and opposed a spending bill that would have funded the Department of Homeland Security. Then in December of 2015, he says Reed publicly opposed a Senate proposal that would have kept individuals on watch lists from purchasing weapons.
Congressman Reed has said he believes the best way to reduce mass shootings in the United States is by focusing on eliminating terrorist threats from abroad and also identifying and helping those with mental illness at home, rather than focusing on legislation restricting a U.S. citizen’s Second Amendment rights. He said any gun restrictions placed on people on the no fly list – some of whom may have been falsely identified as terror suspects – would go against their right to due process under the constitution.
At this point, especially after endorsing and becoming a co-chair for Donald Trump’s campaign – Rep.Tom Reed will continue to err on the side of no common sense regulation for gun sales.
John Plumb, having spent decades in military service, has pronounced many times that he strongly upholds the Second Amendment. Yet, Tom Reed continues to spread lies about Plumb’s stance.
I’ll take John Plumb’s moderation and honesty – over the well known and dangerous (bought and paid for) Tom Reed’s opinions and votes.