Chris Smith and The March for Our Lives

On March 24th, Chris Smith tried to burnish his gun control credentials by posing with students during the March for Our Lives. Smith’s record however, tells a different story.

Last February, Smith and Republicans passed H.J. 40, repealing a regulation preventing those who receive social security disability due to mental illness from purchasing firearms. There were problems with the rule and the ACLU supported the repeal. Instead of fixing it, Smith and Republicans removed it and did nothing. Since then, Smith and Republicans could have addressed any mental health/firearms issue they wanted, they are in control. Still nothing. In fact, they’ve loosened regulations.

The house passed HR 38 last year, the concealed carry reciprocity act, requiring concealed weapons permits from any state, including those with weak or no background checks, to be valid nationwide.

Now that he’s receiving closer scrutiny, Smith voted against HR 38. But in 2011, Smith voted in favor of an identical bill, HR 822. This would undermine the same background checks Smith claimed to support in his photo op during the protests.

If Smith and Republicans believed their own rhetoric about mental health and guns, they have had ample opportunity to act. They’ve done nothing. Smith could use his seniority to influence his party, to be a visible and forceful advocate for gun safety and steer Republicans away from the NRA. He hasn’t. Instead he follows his usual course: quiet opposition, a quick photo, and no leadership when the stakes are high.