How absolute is the House majority's fealty to the gun lobby? Strong enough that House leaders are now working to derail efforts to stop sex offenders from possessing guns.
Last fall, the House of Representatives passed the "The Children's Safety Act of 2005" ( H.R. 3132). The legislation, designed to strengthen federal registration requirements for sex offenders, included a provision that would prohibit gun possession by individuals convicted of misdemeanor sex offenses against minors (those convicted of felony sex offenses are already banned from owning guns under a general rule prohibiting felons from possessing firearms).
This provision -- modeled on the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, a federal law passed in 1996 prohibiting gun possession by persons convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses--was added to the sex offender registry bill as an amendment by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and passed on a voice vote. Apparently, going on the record in support of the principle that the "right" to keep and bear arms extends to those convicted of misdemeanor sex crimes against children makes even the "pro-gun House" trumpeted in 1999 by then-Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) a little bit squeamish.
Many states require sex offenders with misdemeanor convictions to register for their crimes. For example, New York requires registration by sex offenders convicted of misdemeanor crimes including sexual abuse in the third degree, forcible touching, and sexual misconduct. Illinois requires registration by sex offenders convicted of misdemeanor crimes of indecent solicitation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, criminal sexual abuse, and any attempt to commit any of these offenses. Utah requires registration as a sex offender by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of lewdness involving a child or enticing a minor over the Internet.
But in this business-as-usual House, H.R. 3132 has morphed into H.R. 4472 and is scheduled to be considered under suspension of the rules -- meaning there will be no real debate and no opportunity for amendments -- this Wednesday, March 8th. Not only has the Nadler provision disappeared, but an amendment to create a federal anti-hate crime law that extends to crimes where victims are targeted because of their sexual orientation has also been removed. That amendment was offered by Representative John Conyers (D-MI) and passed 223-199, despite opposition from the Republican sponsor of H.R. 3132.
The Second Amendment "rights" of those who sexually violate children or gun control? The choice is simple for the U.S. House: Sex offenders by mile.