Gabby Giffords: Universal Background Checks Not Enough, Legalize Confiscation

On May 9 — less than two years since universal background checks were hoisted onto the backs of law-abiding citizens in Washington state — Gabby Giffords was in the state campaigning for special protective orders that will allow firearm confiscation.

The orders — “Extreme Risk Protection Orders” — would be similar to California’s Gun Violence Restraining Orders, inasmuch as they would allow “family or household members” to petition a judge to order the temporary confiscation of firearms from another family member or person living in the household.

Seattlepi.com reported on Giffords’s visit to support the confiscatory orders contained in Initiative 1491. The outlet quoted Giffords urging a crowd of about 1,500 to support I-1491, saying, “We must never stop fighting! Fight, fight, fight. Be bold, be courageous. The nation is counting on you.” Giffords’s husband Mark Kelly traveled with her, and he explained that they support the initiative over legislation because it allows them to get around the opposition to confiscatory orders that currently prevails in the U.S. Congress as well as the Washington state legislature.

It is interesting to note that the 2014 universal background check initiative was fueled by donations from one-percenters. Public Disclosure Commission records showed Bill Gates gave $500,000 on August 21, 2014, and his wife gave another $500,000 the same day. On August 19, Nicolas Hanauer gave $1 million, and Breitbart News reported Steve and Connie Ballmer gave $580,000 prior to August 17. Millions more in similar donations were given by other billionaires and millionaires.

Ballmer and his wife are pledging big money for the confiscatory orders initiative which will be on the ballot this November and Bloomberg-funded Everytown for Gun Safety has already donated $50,000.

AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.