HOUSTON — U.S. Senator John Cornyn was greeted with loud boos from delegates at the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) convention, delaying his speech. The crowd was upset at the Texas senator’s involvement in negotiations to change gun laws.
Cornyn seemed surprised at the response from his party’s grassroots, but he defended the negotiated agreement on gun laws.
“I will not approve any restrictions for law-abiding gun owners, and that’s my red line. And despite what some of you may have heard, that’s what our plan does,” the senator said as the crowd continued booing loudly.
The plan would place more restrictions on gun purchasers under age 21, pay states to implement “red-flag” laws, and increase spending on mental health and school safety measures. However, the agreement has reportedly hit a snag in finalizing details.
The crowd’s attitude towards Cornyn did ease as he switched topics to touch on his opposition to the “Green New Deal,” abortion, critical race theory, and his disapproval of rising crime rates. Still, the delegates unleashed more loud boos at the conclusion of his speech.
Following Cornyn on stage was Attorney General Ken Paxton, who delivered a not-so-subtle attack on the senator.
“We have some Republicans who are trying to run from the fight [to preserve gun rights], and we need to remember their names next time they’re on the ballot,” Paxton said.
Cornyn is not up for reelection until 2026, as he won his last campaign in 2020.
Paxton also criticized Cornyn earlier this month, saying Texas “will be the first to sue” if the federal government passes legislation that “infringes on our Second Amendment Rights.”
Texas’ other Republican senator, Ted Cruz, who spoke before Cornyn, also made some pointed comments in his direction while affirming that more gun regulations were not the answer to preventing mass shootings.
“I give you my word, anyone that tries to take away our Second Amendment rights, I will stand and fight to defend our liberties,” said Cruz.
Delegates and elected officials were not the only ones to condemn Sen. Cornyn at the convention. The RPT’s Platform Committee unanimously approved a resolution Thursday night rebuking the gun law agreement and all 10 republicans involved in the negotiations.
The other Republicans working with Cornyn and the Democrats were Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Pat Toomey (R-PA).
The resolution calls red-flag laws “a pre-crime punishment of people not adjudicated guilty.”
The full text of the resolution titled the “Resolution against the Gang of 20 Gun Control bill” reads:
“Whereas those under 21 are most likely to be victims of violent crime and thus most likely to need to defend themselves.
“Whereas ‘red flag laws’ violate one’s right to due process and are a pre-crime punishment of people not adjudicated guilty.
“Whereas waiting periods on gun purchases harm those who need to acquire the means of self-defense in emergencies such as riots.
“Whereas all gun control is a violation of the Second Amendment and our God-given rights.
“We reject the so-called ‘bipartisan gun agreement,’ and we rebuke Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).”
Cornyn has previously defended the agreement and its alignment with conservative priorities.
“I worked closely with my colleagues to find an agreement to protect our communities from violence while also protecting law-abiding Texans’ right to bear arms,” he said in a statement on Twitter.
His floor speech in the Senate last week emphasized a similar sentiment.
“We are not talking about restricting the rights of current, law-abiding gun owners or citizens,” Cornyn said on June 6. “What I’m interested in is keeping guns out of the hands of those who, by current law, are not supposed to have them. People with mental health problems, people … who have criminal records.”
He should have been booed. I understand some of his reasoning but Red Flag laws a bad thing. If a gun hating Liberal neighbor of yours knows that you have a gun in your house and feels threatened they can report you. If your are “Red Flagged” it will ruin your life.
What a shame.
Your neighbor need not feel threatened; all he needs to feel is an irrational fear of firearms. He can make up the rest of whatever little an anti-gun judge needs to ruin your life.
Boooooooo…RHINO!
Those who are pushing for more gun laws refuse to act on the true problems. We have many laws already on the books and they do nothing to stop the criminals. They must go after the gangs and those who are possessing weapons “illegally” and not just slap them on the wrist. Start prosecuting the “real” criminals. Cornyn is a traitor to Texans and the United States. He is also standing with the “real” Nazi’s in Ukraine. He turned on us, now we must get him out of office.
As for gangs and felons I agree with you. What laws are on the books not being enforced that would have prevented Uvalde, Colombine or the Nevada hotel shooting for example? I think that is what they are trying to achieve. To my knowledge the perpetrators in those examples broke no laws until they started killing people.
Good for him! It’s about time someone has the guts to stand up and use common sense. Paxton is a crook and has no right to say anything. I didn’t think Cornyn had it in him but it’s great to see both sides come together to make some changes.
In many cases they are coming together to disarm the American people. Is that what you want?
Cornyn doesn’t have guts unless you want to count $$$$$ as guts. You are a fool and obviously left of center. Cornyn has engaged in subtle criminal acts just like a large number of “we are rich now” politicians.
Are you talking about Putin’s puppet? The broke shunk who got in office?
No one is taking away any one’s good. The NRA and all of it’s Rich ‘MF’S are the ones taking stupid poor whites money.
The money you got from Biden you should have repaired your damn house and bought some food.
I am not a fan of Cornyn’s but to many innocent people of being gunned down. And you call yourselves Christian.😈👿
>”Trump Russia”
There are numerous Federal-Court-document-fully-sourced websites illustrating how Clinton via Sussman fully manufactured the Trump Russia allegations that were propagated along by a complicit FBI seventh floor and media.
Sussman’s very own defense was that he wasn’t guilty of lying to the FBI because the FBI was fully aware that it was all BS. There are actual court records of FBI technicians being astounded that their analysis, that the Trump Russia evidence was amateurishly fake, was being disregarded by FBI upper brass.
The TechnoFog substack provides full coverage from April into June and if you don’t believe the author, he provides the official documents that he summarizes as he takes you through the whole sordid journey.
Glad I could clear up your half-decade long misunderstandings.
There are a large number of NRA members that do support things like raising age limits. I was at the Houston NRA Convention and spoke with people attending and even exhibitors. There’s support for proposals such as raising the age limit for weapon purchases. But those measures in conjunction with strengthening school security.
I’m still wondering why James Wolfe was only charged with lying to the FBI instead of being charged with leaking top secret material after Wolfe threatened to subpoena the entire Senate Intelligence Committee as a part of his defense (of which Cornyn is/was a member).
Am I out of line for being curious at such an odd turn of events?
Most conservative know that Cornyn has been A RINO for many years now. He is another establishment politician who would prefer American citizens to be unarmed.
“Disarm American citizens” ?? You mean taking away a semi-automatic gun from the 18 years old young man shot 21 school children and teachers at Ulvade. Semi-automatic guns are for soldiers to protect the country and not for regular citizens!! (Definitely not for a 18 year old who are emotional disturbed.). Does it make sense?
I think Senator Cornyn has the heart and courage to stand up for all these victims’ families. Remember he has everything to lose and was rejected by his peers. But in the end, he did the right thing and can have peace in his conscience.
Thank God for this kind of Senators. This country needs more of them.
The United States has more or less stopped people from hijacking aircraft with guns when that became a problem around the world starting in the 1960s. There was no form of gun ban that was part of that solution. It was achieved through airport security. I don’t understand why school districts across the country are not rushing to implement similar security in their schools before fall classes start.
I have been voting AGAINST Cornyn for years. As for as this debacle, just look who he is voting with on the gun law: ROMNEY, GRAHAM, COLLINS, PORTMAN. Cornyn has been on the liberal side frequently and y’all take a guess on his net worth since he has been in the Senate.
Clown.
I’ve been booing Cornyn for years now. He has been a RINO for as long as I can remember!! He wants to run the Senate when the turtle leaves!! #DitchCornyn Senator Ted Cruz is the man who always looks out for Texas and conservatives!
They look out for their wallets and don’t give a CRAP about Texas citizens, especially the poor ones like you!😢😢
I have no issue with raising the age limit. The Red Flag law is unclear to me how that would actually work. What evidence must be presented in order for a Red Flag to be acted upon? I have yet to see any credible article on that. This argument makes no sense: “Whereas waiting periods on gun purchases harm those who need to acquire the means of self-defense in emergencies such as riots.” Anyone concerned or think they might be concerned for their safety should have a weapon now if they think they might need it. In the middle of a riot is too late. So, no sympathy from me for those unprepared.
He is worthless! Vote him OUT!!
Guns, Guns and more guns will make us safe ! Yeah Right.
You can always tell when a representative is getting ready to retire from office – they cozy up to whoever has the money, and turn their backs on the voters that put them there. I’m sure there’s a special place in Hell that awaits such people …….
Cornyn should’ve been booed! He is the biggest RHINO there is and he has let his constituents down repeatedly. Now he wants to propose that law-abiding citizens lose their guns and criminals are free to roam the streets. If I was there in person I would’ve been booing the loudest.