I say keep guns and keep refugees out
By US congressman Randy Weber writes exclusively in The Post about issues involving his work as part of our nation’s government
Randy Weber
Washington watch with Randy Weber
What happened in Orlando in the early-morning hours of Sunday, June 12, was a tragic act of terror. In the following days, we learned quite a few things. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist’s name is Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old from Fort Pierce, Florida.
Before Mateen murdered 49 innocent lives, he called the police pledging allegiance to IS and mentioned the Boston bombers as his brothers.
This is the worst terror attack since 9/11. Since Barack Obama took office as president, 10 terror attacks on United States soil have claimed the lives of 91 innocent Americans.
Now is the time for Americans to band together in unity against terror and take time to mourn our loss, rather than racing towards restricting law-abiding citizens’ second-amendment constitutional rights.
Once again, the location of the terror attack was a gun-free zone. At what point do we ask whether or not law-abiding citizens carrying guns could have stopped the terrorist for claiming so many lives?
I understand that right now Americans across the country are feeling angry and scared. I recognize that many are looking to find a solution. However, disarming law-abiding citizens and infringing upon our second-amendment rights is not the answer.
Mateen was a terrorist. If he did not have access to a gun, he might have chosen to construct a slow-cooker bomb like the Boston-bombing brothers. Are we going to outlaw slow-cookers?
The enemy is not a lifeless object. The enemy is the person behind said object. The real enemy is radical Islam. Unfortunately, the Obama administration will not even utter the words.
President Obama said in a press briefing that he did not understand how using the term “radical Islam” would help. I will tell you, Mr President. It would define our enemy.
The president does not want his last months in office to be defined by radical Islam. However, if we never define the enemy, we will never defeat the enemy.
We must take action. There are steps we can take. Congress must address the issue of American-born citizens traveling overseas who return radicalized with hate in their heart. We should be more cautious of who is coming into our country and from where they come, which is why placing a pause on the refugee program would be in our nation’s best interest.
There is much to be done by congress but we face an uphill battle with a president and administration who are fighting tooth and nail to avoid the realities we face against radical Islam.
Randy Weber is the US representative for the 14th district of Texas, which covers Brazoria, Galveston and Jefferson counties.
Weber believes halting the admission of refugees into America would help solve the battle against terrorism. PHOTO by Mark Henley/UNHCR/MGN
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