If President Donald Trump and Republican leaders strike a deal with Democrats to expand firearm sales background checks, there could be political fallout that would dismay the conservative base and give Democrats key points heading into the 2020 election, Senate conservatives warn.
“If Republicans abandon the Second Amendment and demoralize millions of Americans who care deeply about Second Amendment rights, that could go a long way to electing a President Elizabeth Warren,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said during a breakfast event held by The Christian Science Monitor, reports The Hill.
“We’re going to see record-shattering Democratic turnout. The only element missing to ensure Democratic victory is demoralizing conservatives so they stay home. I hope we don’t do that," Cruz added while responding to a question about what would happen if Trump signs a bill that is like the 2013 gun control amendment sponsored by Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Manchin, D-W. Va.
Other conservative senators said they have spoken either with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to warn about the backlash.
“It is a slippery slope, and gun rights advocates understand that,” said Sen. Ron Johnson R-Wis., “When you really understand what the endgame of the left is, it’s literally mandatory buy-backs or as I call it: confiscation. This is a step-by-step process for them."
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said he's told GOP leaders his home state strongly opposes expanding background checks, as extensive measures already exist, and Sen. Mike Rounds said the Manchin-Toomey bill, which would require background checks for all gun show and internet sales while exempting them for private sales, would be unconstitutional.
“We keep trying to regulate individuals who are not causing problems,” he said, referring to law-abiding gun owners. “We just haven’t seen a proposal that’s going to fix the issues we’re dealing with here. We have to get back to mental health."