Something was conspicuously absent from Senator Thom Tillis’ recent message to voters…

US Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently released a statement addressing the calamity of so-called “red flag” laws, or “extreme risk Protection Orders” (ERPO). He wrote specifically about Senate Bill 7 (S. 7), the “Extreme Risk Protection Order and Violence Prevention Act of 2019.”

Omission of Known Facts is Lying
Unfortunately, his statement, likely meant to appease voters, has instead left his constituents with even more concerns, and they’re not small concerns. Indeed, Senator Tillis’ statement conspicuously omitted any discussion of the major Constitutional problems with red flag laws; “ex parte” hearings, for example. It appears that the senator is attempting to soften your view of these undeniably repressive laws, perhaps to prepare North Carolina voters for his pending “yes” votes. It certainly looks like Senator Tillis will be supporting this rights-suspending bill. In his correspondence, Tillis says of the red flag proposal:

"I believe we can strike the right balance
between protecting law-abiding citizens’
Second Amendment rights while also being
mindful of an individual’s right to due process.”

                                                                          - Sen. Thom Tillis

Untrustworthy Republicans like Lindsey Graham (it appears “the old” Lindsey is back) have guaranteed that this bill will be heard by the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, on which Thom Tillis serves. In true RINO fashion, Tillis and others appear to be supporting S. 7, with the hearing scheduled for March 26. As you’ve probably surmised from the above quote, we cannot rely on this committee’s Republicans to do the right thing. They must hear from you. More on that below.

Thom Tillis is a learned man. He has presumably read (and understood) the Bill of Rights. We know he received your message last week explaining the danger of red flag laws and insisting that he oppose them. With those things in mind, it is not possible that Senator Tillis is unaware of the severe Constitutional problems with red flag laws. Therefore, when he failed to address these critical matters in his correspondence with constituents, he was not telling the whole truth. For example, red flag laws allow for ex parte hearings, meaning a judge or magistrate can suspend your Constitutional rights based only on someone’s accusation, and you will not be told about the hearing. You won’t be there, indeed you can’t be there to face your accusers and defend yourself. You’ll only learn about the hearing when the police arrive at your door to seize your firearms.

By omission, Senator Thom Tillis is lying to you, and by doing so, he is disrespecting the people of North Carolina and worse, he is likely signaling his desire to vote in favor of these deliberate and severe violations of the Second, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments (at least).

To read more about red flag laws, including the influence Thom Tillis, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, might have on their passage or defeat, see GRNC’s previous alert on the topic.

Don’t Let Him Get away with This
Below, see how you can easily send a message to Senator Tillis to let him know that he has not fooled anyone by whistling past the Bill of Rights. Going forward, he must be honest and candid with North Carolina’s voters, and he must reject “red flag” laws, and by doing so, live up to his oath of office (and the Republican Party platform, and the Second Amendment statement published on his Senate website).  Please participate in both of the action items below. Bear in mind: red flag laws violate nearly half* of the amendments in the Bill of Rights.

* Constitutional Violations of 'Red Flag' Laws:

• 2nd (Amendment): Infringing on a citizen’s right to keep and bear arms when no crime has been committed. Even if a crime is committed or an accusation is leveled (which it is not here), proper due process is required, but is denied.
• 4th: Unreasonable search of a citizen’s home and seizure of his effects without probable cause of a crime. There can be no probable cause where there is not even an accusation of a crime.
• 5th: The deprival of liberty and property without due process of law.
• 6th: Being deprived of your rights though no crime has been committed, and it is known that no crime has been committed because the citizen is not accused of a crime. Also, an ex parte hearing denies your right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation and to be confronted by the witnesses against you. By definition, ex parte denies your right to counsel.

• EMAIL SENATOR THOM TILLIS (R-NC): CLICK HERE to access his contact web form. Use the copy/paste message provided below, under ‘Deliver This Message.’ 
  

• PHONE SENATOR THOM TILLIS: On Monday morning, please phone Thom Tillis’s DC office at this number: (202) 224-6342. If you can’t call in the morning, please call as soon as you can after that. Deliver the following message to Tillis’ staff or his voice-mail.  

• PHONE THE OTHER REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Use the phone numbers provided below. Tell each senator to vote “no” on Senate Bill 7 and any similar bill. No person who claims to support the Bill of Rights can also support a red flag bill such as this, a bill which would violate no less than four articles of the Bill of Rights. Protect due process, protect the Second Amendment, NO on S. 7.
  
  
• PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC: Help us fight gun control while we promote Second Amendment principles. Please CLICK HERE to contribute. Bear in mind that GRNC is an all-volunteer organization, so you can be sure your donations are put to the best possible use. Any amount helps, and any amount is appreciated.

Republican Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: 

 Suggested Subject: "NO on S. 7, Yes to the Bill of Rights"  
 

Dear Senator Tillis:

Respectfully,

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