Reps. Crenshaw, Ocasio-Cortez spar over the wisdom of lending guns

James Marshall
September 5, 2019

Two high profile freshmen House members publicly clashed Wednesday over the issue of background checks for purchasing guns and being able to lend out firearms, a fight that previews just one part of the polarizing debate over gun control awaiting members of Congress when lawmakers return from recess next week.

The Texas Republican highlighted a local news story of a woman who stopped a robbery after she pulled her gun and fired at her would-be assailants, injuring one of them. "Why are you 'lending" guns to people unsupervised who can't pass a basic background check?' Ocasio-Cortez questioned in a tweet Wednesday.

Calls for more gun reform, including more strict background checks, have increased after a string of recent mass shootings.

Ocasio-Cortez than contended that those borrowing a gun from Crenshaw "have likely abused their spouse or have a violent criminal record, & you may not know it".

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said her criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not be seen as shots at the Jewish state.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks to the media last week in NY. Why on earth would you do that?'

"Just so I'm clear: you think my friends are domestic abusers/criminals?" he later wrote on Twitter.

Laws on lending guns vary from state to state, although federal law allows someone to lend a gun to a person unless that person is prohibited from owning a gun.

The background check bill that the House of Representatives passed does include several exemptions, including for temporary transfers that are "necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm", or for use at a gun range, or for "hunting, trapping, or fishing". "Try to keep up".

Their Twitter spat comes amid a push by Democrats and some Republicans to reform USA gun laws in the wake of a string of deadly mass shootings, including two in Crenshaw's home state.

On Saturday, seven people were killed and more than 20 others wounded in a shooting rampage near Odessa, Texas.

"The shooter tried to buy a gun from a registered dealer, but failed the background check", Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., noted in a tweet. Then he shot 30 people, killing 7. That's why "vouching for friend" isn't a substitute for a background check. "Guys who shoot cops tend not to self-enforce laws. And we don't make sweeping policy on one situation".

Other reports by Click Lancashire

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