‘Tell Me Again, Why Is Showing A Voter ID Voter Suppression’: Burgess Owens Slams Critics Of Voter I.D. Laws

Republican lawmaker, Rep. Burgess Owens (Utah) recently slammed a critic who called him out for his supposed “bias” for supporting proposals meant to require IDs for voters while opposing gun control measures.

The critic wrote to Owens: “Want to see some serious racism? Study the history of how voter id laws have been used.”

“This game is fun. You’re pro racism one way, anti-racism the other. Your bias is showing. Universal background checks affect everyone. It is trivial to write it so it isn’t a racial thing,” the Twitter user said.

Owens, a conservative African-American lawmaker, fired back at his critic responding: “You know what’s racist? Assuming because I’m black that ‘I just don’t have the capability of getting an I-D.’ 

“Disclaimer: We are capable of getting and I-D (and even using the internet!),” he added.

The GOP lawmaker spoke on the House floor on Wednesday, where he lasted at the administration of Democrat President Joe Biden, and his support for proposals meant to expand background checks on gun purchase and make it more difficult to make private gun sales.

“These rights protect my life, liberty and property, were granted to me by God, and cannot be taken away from me by D.C. bureaucrats. I grew up in the Deep South at a time when black Americans were unable to defend themselves. After the Civil War, black codes and Jim Crow laws prohibited people of color from owning firearms. In the mid-1950’s Martin Luther King Jr. carried firearms for self-protection but his application for concealed weapon permit was denied because of racist gun control laws in his state,” Owens said.

In his impassioned speech, he also recalled how gun ownership was instrumental in protecting the life of his African-American family from “bullies”. 

“As a child, my dad witnessed an altercation between his father and a southern white man who thought my grandfather was being disrespectful and threatened to teach him a lesson,” Owen continued. “Later that night he drove up to my grandfather’s home with a bunch of his friends, standing on the floor-runner of a Model-T Ford. My grandfather was prepared; he and his brothers had hidden around his front porch.”

“As these bullies and cowards approached the house, they heard the click of rifles and left as fast as they came. Without firing his gun on another human being, my grandfather’s right to own a firearm ensured his rights to protect his life, liberty and property,” he added.

Owens also fired back at another critic who said that despite him pushing for gun rights, the NRA has never been on his side as an African-American.

“The NRA wasn’t on your side then and surely isn’t now. Systemic racism is real and you will never get in the rich white guys club,” the Twitter user said.

Responding, the Republican lawmaker said: “Racism in the old days hid behind white hoods. Now it hides behind fake profile pictures and fake names on Twitter espousing ‘woke’ ideals.”

Meanwhile, in a series of tweets after responding to his critic questioning his support for voter IDs, while pushing for the Second Amendment rights, Owens blasted notions that requiring voters to show an ID in order to vote is a means of “voter suppression.” 

“Want to see some serious racism? Study the history of how gun control laws have been used,” Owens said.

“I use my I.D. to drive a car, to get a job, to board a plane, pick up prescriptions, and virtually everything else in life…,” the GOP lawmaker said.

“So tell me again, why is showing an I.D. “voter suppression”? 

The Democrat-controlled House passed two bills Thursday requiring background checks on all firearms sales and transfers and to allow an expanded 10-day review for gun purchases.

Eight Republicans and all House Democrats voted for the measure which hurdled the House in a 227-203 vote. The bill will now head to the Senate and Senate Democrats on Thursday plans for a floor vote on the legislation.

On Friday, 35 Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to ban “assault weapons” — including AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles — mostly citing concern about “domestic terrorism.” California Senator Dianne Feinstein was the lead sponsor of the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2021.”

AR-15s is among the most popular owned by Americans with an estimated 10 million to 20 million legally owned AR-15s and similar weapons in the US.

Steeve Strange

Steeve is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Scoop.