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Nancy Pelosi Immediately Teases Gun Control Emergency Declaration

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned if President Donald Trump declares a national emergency to obtain further funding for border barrier construction, it would set a precedent that a future Democratic president could use to take similar action regarding gun control.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that the president would sign congressional legislation providing $1.375 billion for new border barrier construction, but would also take executive action to obtain additional funds, Fox News reported.

“President Trump will sign the government funding bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action — including a national emergency — to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border,” Sanders said in a statement. “The president is once again delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country.”

While urging the legislation’s passage earlier in the day, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell revealed on the Senate floor that the president is “prepared to sign the bill. He will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time.”

Pelosi responded to that prospect telling reporters, “I know that Republicans have some unease about it no matter they say. … Just think of what a president with different values can present to the American people.”

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“You want to talk about a national emergency? Let’s talk about today, the one-year anniversary of another manifestation of the epidemic of gun violence in America,” the speaker continued, referring to the Parkland high school shooting that left 17 dead.

“That’s a national emergency,” Pelosi argued. “A Democratic president can do that. Democratic presidents can declare emergencies, as well. So the precedent that the president is setting here is something that should be met with great unease and dismay by the Republicans.”

In a joint statement, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer contended that Trump declaring a national emergency would be an act of lawlessness.

“Declaring a national emergency would be a lawless act, a gross abuse of the power of the presidency and a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that President Trump broke his core promise to have Mexico pay for his wall,” they said.

“He couldn’t convince Mexico, the American people or their elected representatives to pay for his ineffective and expensive wall, so now he’s trying an end-run around Congress in a desperate attempt to put taxpayers on the hook for it,” they added. “The Congress will defend our constitutional authorities.”

Pelosi declined to say whether congressional Democrats would file a lawsuit seeking to block Trump, but indicated it would be an option.

Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts tweeted, “Gun violence is an emergency. Climate change is an emergency. Our country’s opioid epidemic is an emergency. Donald Trump’s ridiculous wall is not an emergency.”

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CNN political commentator Doug Heye tweeted, “Make no mistake: the next Democratic President will declare national emergencies on guns and climate change and cite the Trump precedent when doing so.”

The president’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., responded, “Make no mistake, anyone who thinks they wouldn’t do this all anyway hasn’t been watching.”

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas compiled a list of 76 lawless acts by Barack Obama while the 44th president was still in office.

They included creating the DACA (Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals) program in 2012 after he stated he had no authority to do so. He also established the DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans), of which the Supreme Court ultimately blocked implementation.

Additionally, he disregarded the 1996 welfare reform law’s work requirement.

Do you think Trump declaring a national emergency sets a bad precedent?

Other critics have pointed to Obama’s Clean Power Plan, committing the United States to the U.N. Paris Climate Accord, and signing the Iran nuclear deal as other examples of the former president doing an end run around Congress.

Many argued the latter two were treaties requiring the Senate to approve them with a two-thirds vote.

Trump has argued, as commander-in-chief, the Constitution gives him the clear authority to secure the nation’s border against drug cartels and other violent criminal activity.

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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