by Marty Daniel of Daniel Defense caused a wee bit of controversy on Friday when he posted his support for the Fix NICS Act. The original Facebook post is gone so I’m copying this from Townhall.com.
Message from Marty Daniel on the Fix NICS Act (S.2135)
Dear Friends,
I need your help. I believe the Fix NICS Act (S. 2135), sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), is presently the only common sense approach to keeping firearms out of the hands of the wrong people. This bipartisan bill, which aims to keep firearms from being sold to criminals and other dangerous people, was introduced by U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas. All provisions of this bill have already been voted on and passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. While the bill has enough votes to pass the Senate, we must put pressure on our representatives until the President puts pen to paper.
Our Senators, by passing the Fix NICS Act, can take logical steps TODAY to improve background checks through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). By doing so, states would not only be required to, but would be held accountable for not complying with new reporting procedures which would ensure background checks are complete and reliable. The Fix NICS Act would:
• Mandate federal agencies to report criminal convictions to the
Attorney General
• Require reporting of select mental health records that prohibit the
purchase of firearms (Fix NICS only seeks to require mental health
records that fit current federal categories)
• Hold states and federal agencies accountable for failing to upload
records
Here’s how you can help.
1.) Send an Email to Your Representatives at: http://bit.ly/2FFsmg0
2.) Share this Post & Tag Your Representatives in the Comments
Together, we can get this thing passed.
– Marty Daniel
Let’s just say many people were not happy and leave it at that.
Today, Mr. Daniel went back to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to post a quite different message. Here is the one from Facebook.
Message from Marty Daniel:
Friends,
First and foremost, let me say that I have heard your voices. I put out a statement on Friday, supporting Senate Bill S.2135 also known as the Fix NICS Act. I have received overwhelming feedback since putting out this statement, which has brought to my attention that there are significant and justified concerns regarding this bill. I can no longer in good conscience put my support behind S.2135.
I released the original statement because I believed it was the best option available at this time to hold back the continued attacks on the Second Amendment and the erosion of our rights. I was wrong.
Let me be very clear:
• My life’s work is to protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms by holding our lawmakers accountable to the Second Amendment.
• I believe that all firearms laws that limit the rights of law abiding citizens are unconstitutional.
• I will never support any legislation which infringes on any individuals rights, and could potentially subvert due process.
• Myself, my Family, and Daniel Defense love and serve our Veterans every day. I would never support a legislative measure which would strip them of their rights based on their history of service and sacrifice.
Thank you to everyone who reached out and voiced your concerns. You are a motivated and passionate group of people which I am proud to call my peers, my friends, and my family. We are all united in one fight – the fight to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. I will never turn my back on you. I stand with you and I am ready to continue to fight for our rights.
-Marty
People I know and respect are on both sides of the debate regarding Fix NICS. I think it is up to you to make your own decision on it. The other thing I would note is that if even half the pressure put on Marty Daniel and Daniel Defense was put on wavering politicians there would be no debating Fix NICS, a new AWB, or age restrictions. The fight would be over and we would have won.