LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL THE CANDIDATES RUNNING TO REPLACE BOEHNER
The background check expansion is just a part of a larger package of gun control reforms Obama intends to tackle in his last year in the Oval Office. But Republican members of Congress, and many congressional hopefuls, have opposed the president's latest executive order, with many calling it illegal.
There are 15 Republicans, a Democrat and a Green Party member seeking to be the next congressman representing Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, replacing the six-county district’s former congressman, John Boehner. Here’s what some of those candidates had to say:
Bill Beagle, Republican, Tipp City: "I am outraged about President Obama's executive order attacking our 2nd Amendment rights by, once again, subverting Congress and acting against the will of the American people. This is just another disturbing example of this President's willful disregard for the American Constitution and blatant overreach of executive power. The 2nd Amendment is a fundamental right afforded to American citizens by our Founding Fathers and must be defended so that we in turn have the freedom to defend ourselves. I am proud of my proven track record on 2nd Amendment issues and in Congress, I will continue to fight passionately to protect our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms."
Warren Davidson, Republican, Troy: "President Obama's perverse use of language from the Declaration of Independence to cover his contempt for our 2nd Amendment rights will not distract the American people from both the unconstitutionality of the content of the orders nor the illegality of his attempts to legislate by pen stroke. Now, in his eighth year, we are seeing his intent to use his time as a lame duck president to rob us of more and more constitutional rights by executive fiat. In Congress, I will fight these executive orders tooth and nail, expose them for their unconstitutionality, and be a voice and champion for the constitutional rights guaranteed us by our founders, earned in our revolution, and defended by our soldiers every day."
Tim Derickson, Republican, Hanover Twp.: "Decisions such as these absolutely should be decided by the United States Congress and not by the pen of the Executive Branch. My solid record on the 2nd Amendment speaks for itself."
Corey Foister, Democrat, Fairfield: "President Obama had to use an executive order because the Republican-controlled U.S Congress no longer works and doesn't debate any important issues anymore. This is not a partisan issue. A Pew Research Center poll conducted in August 2015 shows that 88 percent of all Americans, including 79 percent of Republican voters, supported expanding background checks. We can't continue down this same path, the system is broken as is."
Scott George, Republican, Troy: "President Obama's executive action on gun control is yet another example of his overreach. It was a blatant attempt to deem the Congress null-and-void. It sickens me to see him exploit American tragedies to further an agenda that will do nothing but make law-abiding citizens more vulnerable.
“If our president and the people in Washington want to reduce the number of tragedies, they need to recognize the root cause; the social and moral decay of American society, mental illness and political correctness and apathy.”
In nearly every mass shooting there were signs that something wasn’t right prior to the shootings and people either didn’t recognize them or ignored them. The reason is simple, we have been conditioned that we cannot judge people based on acceptable social norms.”
Eric J. Haemmerle, Republican, West Chester Twp.: "I believe in law-abiding citizens having the protections of the 2nd Amendment to defend their homes and their families. When there is a mass shooting in this nation, the first thing we reflexively ask for is gun control. The president's recent Executive Order on gun control has once again missed the mark and will have no real impact on gun violence in this nation because it doesn't address the real problem. The issue with guns in our nation today is that far too many guns are falling into the hands of the wrong people; criminals and the mentally ill. Many of these shootings were carried out by repeat offenders. Before we start restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens, we need to address the issue of gun possession and the recidivism rate of violent criminals in this nation. No background check will prevent a criminal from possessing a gun."
Terri King, Republican, Middletown: "It is unconstitutional, and just another example of his total disregard for our Constitution and the laws of our land. This is not the first time that his has taken unconstitutional action, and bypassed Congress, yet Congress has sat by and done nothing to stop him. Our Constitution is one of the greatest documents ever written. The purpose of which was to set up a Republic where the rights of the citizens would always be protected. The Second Amendment gives Americans the right to protect themselves from a tyrannical government, which we currently have. Every Nation that has ever taken their people's guns have taken all of their freedoms as well, and they have became a dictatorship, communist, fascist or socialist regime. This is an illegal action on his part, and will not stand."
Joe Matvey, Republican, West Chester Twp.: "The president has issued over 20 executive orders relating to gun control. This is one more unconstitutional action by this liberal president. The best way to respond to any form of physical terrorism is to have the bad guys question who is going to defend themselves. Once again his unilateral action will erode our Constitutional rights."
Edward Meer, Republican, West Chester Twp.: "Sadly, I'm not going to have a reply just yet to what the president said cause I'm still looking things up. But from what I'm hearing the FBI and the ATF are both under staffed so I'm OK with the request for more funding. As for the gun shows and internet sales, I thought that Congress passed a law on them after the Columbine shootings. One of the many things I'm looking into as well as to just how many shootings are by the mentality unstable and just how are they getting the firearms that they use. I want to make sure I don't say the wrong thing cause I didn't bother to make sure I had my facts right."
Jim Spurlino, Republican, Centerville: "The president's proposal today to trample on the Constitution and infringe on gun rights is illegal and an outrage. In fact, I'm inviting President Obama to come to a local gun range with me for a conversation and target shooting with real gun owners. We'll discuss the importance of the Constitution, particularly the 2nd Amendment. Millions of Americans are law-abiding gun owners. In fact, my wife and I are both concealed-carry permit holders. And the president can me with a few single mothers who rely on their guns and concealed-carry permits to protect their families from criminals. So let me say this: Mr. President, come target shoot with me and some everyday Americans. You might learn something. And I'll even let you shoot my Glock."
Kevin F. White, Republican, New Carlisle: "At this point nothing this president does via executive order surprises me. The biggest thematic lesson for Americans: to restore respect for the United States Constitution and safeguard individual liberties such as the 'Right to Bear Arms' and others- Americans must elect a Republican president in 2016.
“This is not just about guns; this is about transformational change of the American Republic and our constitutional form of representative government away from a foundation built upon government ‘Of the People, By the People and For the People.” To restrict the individual right to bear arms weakens the republic and degrades the general welfare and safety of her citizens.”
J.D. Winteregg, Republican, Troy: "Once again, President Obama is circumventing the legislative process through executive orders to impose his radical, Leftist ideology on law-abiding American citizens. I also find it interesting that the urgency of this gun control initiative — and all those crocodile tears — didn't kick in until after his taxpayer-funded Hawaiian vacation. I'll fight the Far Left whenever they attempt to strip us of our rights, and I'll work to ensure that the 2nd Amendment is respected, defended, and preserved."
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