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In 1999, the General Services Administration (GSA) began administering the surplus firearm donation program. The program provides firearms that are no longer needed by federal agencies to state and local law enforcement agencies (LEA). In the roughly sixteen years since the program's inception, GSA has donated more than 9,800 firearms to LEAs, including more then 4,800 handguns, 4,100 rifles, and 28 grenade launchers.
Here's the problem. A review of GSA's records showed that 485 firearms were lost between 2001 and January 2016, and of those lost, only 24 were eventually reported as found. The remaining 461 lost firearms, including grenade launchers and Uzis, were either traded, sold, or remain missing.
We have a federal agency program that is totally dedicated to registering and controlling firearms. However, the GSA doesn’t even know how many they have, where they are, or who has them.
It is truly unbelievable that the Obama Administration continues their attempts to restrict Americans’ Second Amendment rights when they can’t even verify the model or location of their own firearms. I find it very alarming that the administration continues to push to infringe on the constitutional rights of responsible gun owners when they can’t even keep their own house straight. Maybe the government should concentrate on its own programs before invading Americans’ homes.
To address this issue, I joined my colleagues on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform this week to demand answers from the GSA. You can click here to see my questioning from the hearing. |
| From our Nation's Capitol XLV |
Monday, February 29, 2016: After final votes in Washington last Friday afternoon, I headed to Detroit, Michigan, where I spent Friday night and Saturday as the keynote speaker for the Michigan Pharmacy Association. As the only pharmacist in Congress, I feel a responsibility to meet these different groups and try to attend as many state association meetings as possible. Michigan has one of the largest state association meetings in the country and their group is very politically involved. Early Sunday morning I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, where I spoke to the Tennessee Pharmacist’s Association at their midyear winter meeting. While I did not get home this weekend, at least I did get close and down south in Tennessee, although I had to endure quite a bit of ribbing from the UT football fans about their victory over my beloved Bulldogs this year. I flew from Nashville, Tennessee to Washington this morning and once back I head to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for a taped video interview on “getting to know the members.” Afterwards, I head back to my office where I meet with Frank Richards and Eliza McCall with the 2nd Harvest of South Georgia before we have our weekly staff meeting. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day where I preside as Speaker Pro tem over the votes and afterwards over one minute speeches and special orders.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016: I begin today with our weekly Republican Conference meeting where the budget is the main topic of conversation. We are rapidly approaching the time when we must have a budget passed in order to return to regular order where we vote on individual appropriation bills rather than on an Omnibus or Continuing Resolution. In order for this to happen we must work closely with the Senate and today we hear from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) who pledge their cooperation in this process. Afterwards, I head to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform where we are marking up a number of bills today.
Congressman Carter with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority |
After heading back to my office to meet with representatives from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, I head to the House Chamber where I give a one minute speech on Vinnie Van Go Go’s 25th anniversary celebration. A link to my speech can be found here. Next, I head back to my office where I meet with Dr. Thomas Shook and his wife from Savannah who are up representing the American Association of Clinical Urologists, before meeting with representatives from the Georgia School Nutrition Group including Laura Lynn, Director of Brantley County School Nutrition. Afterwards, I meet with representatives of the Sugar Cane League before meeting with members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After heading to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day, I head back to my office where I meet with a group from the American Association of Orthodontists including Dr. Mark Dusek from Savannah, followed by a meeting with the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education representatives.
Congressman Carter meeting with Veterans of Foreign Wars |
Finally, I head to a meeting with Rep. Rob Bishop, (R-UT), Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, concerning a bill I have introduced regarding Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016: One of the most dedicated volunteers in the First Congressional District of Georgia is Sheila McNeill from Camden County, whose support of Navy Submarine Base Kings Bay is endless and who continues to be a blessing for the base and our community. Sheila is at the Capitol today for the Submarine Industrial Base Councils Annual Congressional Breakfast and I stop by this morning to bring greetings to the group. After heading back to my office to meet with representatives from Georgia Tech regarding the National Space Grant Program, I head to a Committee on Homeland Security subcommittee hearing to discuss the Transportation Security Administrations FY2017 budget request. Next, I head to a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on geolocation technology and privacy before heading back to my office for a meeting with representatives from the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership including Terry McCormick from Elan Technologies in Liberty County. Later, I meet with Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials along with Partner Conservation Organizations before heading to a Subcommittee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on firearms lost and the Surplus Firearm Donation Program. A link to my questions can be found here. Following a meeting with representatives from IKEA, I head to the house chamber where we have our first vote series of the day and I stay in the chamber to speak on H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act. Once back in my office, I meet with representatives from Boys Town followed by a meeting with Colonel Marvin Griffin of the Savannah District Army Corp of Engineers.
Congressman Carter with Colonel Marvin Griffin |
Next, I head to Rep. Austin Scott’s (R-GA) office where we meet with General Mark Welch about Moody Air Force Base and other Air Force issues before heading to the House Chamber for our second and final vote series of the day.
Thursday, March 3, 2016: Officials and board members from the Georgia Ports Authority are in Washington today and I host a breakfast for them where we hear from Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Republican Conference Chairperson Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) among other leaders. Afterwards, I head to the Capitol for our second Republican Conference of the week before heading back to my office to meet with Armstrong State University President Linda Bleicken, followed by a meeting with members of the Brunswick Job Corps Center. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first vote series of the day and I stay on the floor to speak on H.R. 4557. Next, I head back to my office and meet with members of the Southern Cotton Growers including Wayne County resident Kent Fountain before I head back to the House Chamber for our second and final vote series of the day. Later, I fly down to Savannah where I am hosting my friend Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, (R-CA) this evening at an event.
Congressman Carter with Christopher Talmadge Carter |
On the trip home, I find out that my first grandson, Christopher Talmadge Carter, is born at 3:08PM in Charlottesville, VA. Wow, God is Good! |
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