Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick voted on two high-profile pieces of legislation last week.
The three-term congressman voted to back an assault-weapons ban that passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a razor-thin 217-213 vote.
The legislation, which was written by Rhode Island’s Democratic Congressman David Cicilline, would make it unlawful to knowingly sell, manufacture, transfer, possess, or import a variety of semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. Some types of firearms, such as antiques, rifles and shotguns that are clearly marked with their make and model, as well as weapons that are manually operated in a number of ways, would be exempt from the assault weapons ban.
Newsweek reported American Firearms Association President Christopher Dorr issued an email to supporters saying Fitzpatrick put “a knife into the backs of the people who voted them into office.” The email also criticized GOP Congressman Chris Jacobs, of New York.
“The Fake News Media and the Democrats are waiting for the next high profile shooting to guilt as many Republicans as possible into supporting their most aggressive assault on our Second Amendment rights in decades,” Dorr told members.
The ban is similar to a 10-year assault weapon ban that expired in 2004. The latest proposed ban is not expected to pass in the U.S. Senate.
Earlier this summer, Fitzpatrick and U.S. senators Bob Casey, a Democrat, and Pat Toomey, a Republican, supported the Safer Communities Act. The legislation, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden, tightened some gun laws; will put billions toward treating mental health; and set up grants to launch crisis intervention programs, which are often called “red-flag laws.”
Also last week, Fitzpatrick was among 24 Republicans to vote for the CHIPS and Science Act.
The CHIPS and Science Act is aimed at increasing semiconductor chip manufacturing domestically and increasing research. The bill, which also passed the U.S. Senate, is a $280 billion package to set the nation to better compete against China and other countries in the industry that is important to many aspects of modern life.
“The CHIPS and Science Act is exactly what we need to be doing to grow our economy right now. By making more semiconductors in the United States, this bill will increase domestic manufacturing and lower costs for families. And, it will strengthen our national security by making us less dependent on foreign sources of semiconductors,” Biden said in a statement after the passage of the bill.
See also:
Congressman Fitzpatrick Votes for Marriage Equality Bill
Congressman Fitzpatrick Votes for Gun Safety Legislation, Calls for Action
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Congressman Fitzpatrick Issues Statement on Vote Against Bill He Originally Co-Sponsored
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