BASH BACKS 2A

• John helped Justice Scalia write the landmark Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller—the first in American history to recognize an individual constitutional right to own a firearm. A copy of Heller, signed by Justice Scalia with a note of gratitude, hangs in John’s office as a reminder of that moment: the honor of a lifetime.
• John comes from a proud military family—his father is a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran—and he is a responsible gun owner with a deep personal commitment to the Second Amendment.
• At a time when supporting gun rights was deeply unpopular in elite media and corporate circles, John publicly defended the right to keep and bear arms in the pages of the New York Times—likely the first time many of its readers had ever encountered such arguments. Among other things:
  

• He called Heller “one of the most important decisions in U.S. history.”
• He urged the Supreme Court to extend Heller to protect the right to carry firearms outside the home—a view the Court later adopted.
• He condemned laws “that would make criminals out of millions of otherwise law-abiding citizens who believe that firearm ownership is essential to protecting their families.”
• He criticized bans on widely owned firearms such as AR-15s.
• He insisted that any law restricting firearm possession for mental illness or past violence must respect due process—making clear that “red flag” laws are unconstitutional.
• He rejected the claim that Heller or the Second Amendment is to blame for mass shootings, noting there is no evidence any shooter obtained a gun because of Heller.
• And he explained that while Heller sets a constitutional baseline, elected officials must go further to oppose unwise gun-control laws even if courts would uphold them

BASH’S VIEWS ON GUN RIGHTS ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR

• The Second Amendment protects the right to own and carry firearms in common use for self-defense—including AR-15s.
• “Red-flag” laws are unconstitutional because they disarm citizens without due process.
• Constitutional carry should remain the law in Texas.
• Texas should take legal action against other states that restrict Texans’ right to carry for self-defense while traveling.
• Law enforcement must have the resources it needs to enforce existing laws against gun possession by illegal immigrants, convicted violent felons, and the dangerously mentally ill—within the bounds of the Constitution.
• Background checks on private sales unnecessarily burden lawful gun owners without meaningful public safety benefits.
• Non-violent, white-collar offenders who have served their time should not be barred from owning firearms for self-defense.
• Politicized prosecutions of citizens like Kyle Rittenhouse who act in self-defense are always wrong.
• Public high schools should offer voluntary firearms training for students without criminal records.
• The Attorney General’s Office should actively support gun rights across the country, including filing amicus briefs in key cases.
• The Attorney General’s Office should also review local laws and practices across Texas to ensure that all residents can fully exercise their Second Amendment rights, taking legal action when necessary.