Mark Kelly: Lawbreaker Or Misunderstood?

Mark Kelly is an American politician, retired astronaut, and United States Navy captain who has served as the senior United States senator from Arizona since 2020. Kelly's name has been associated with law-breaking in two instances. Firstly, in 2023, he was accused of breaking the law with his AR-15 purchase, which, if he did not intend to keep the weapon, would make him a straw purchaser and guilty of felony and perjury. Secondly, in 2024, Kelly denounced Republican senators for blocking a bipartisan border bill, calling it a shameful day for the Senate.

Mark Kelly's AR-15 purchase

Mark Kelly, the husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, purchased an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in March 2013. Kelly, a former astronaut, bought the rifle from Diamondback Police Supply, a gun store in Tucson, Arizona. He also purchased a 45-caliber handgun.

Kelly posted a photo of himself buying the military-style rifle on Facebook, generating nearly 4,000 comments from people on both sides of the gun debate. He said he bought the rifle to demonstrate how easy it is to obtain firearms that he is lobbying Congress to ban. He added that a background check only took a few minutes to complete and that it is concerning that people can buy similar guns without background checks at gun shows or online.

Kelly and Giffords started a gun control advocacy group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, and founded a political action committee to lobby for universal background checks for gun buyers. They have also urged restrictions on the sale of high-capacity magazines.

The owner of Diamondback Police Supply, Doug MacKinlay, cancelled Kelly's purchase of the AR-15 rifle after learning that Kelly did not plan to keep the gun for personal use. MacKinlay posted a statement on the store's Facebook page, explaining that it was in the company's best interest to terminate the transaction before Kelly completed the required Federal Form 4473 and NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) background check. MacKinlay refunded Kelly's money and donated the rifle to the Arizona Tactical Officers Association, where it was raffled off to raise funds for law enforcement.

Mark Kelly's stance on gun control

Mark Kelly, a former NASA astronaut and current U.S. Senator from Arizona, is a strong advocate for gun control measures. He supports universal background checks, closing gun show loopholes, and reinstating the ban on assault weapons. Kelly has consistently advocated for universal background checks for all gun sales and believes that closing gun show loopholes is crucial in preventing illegal firearms from entering the market. He is in favor of reinstating the ban on assault weapons to reduce the prevalence of these firearms in the country.

Kelly has also expressed support for red flag laws, which allow for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others. He advocates for the implementation of waiting periods for gun purchases to allow for thorough background checks and to prevent impulsive acts of violence. Kelly supports a comprehensive approach to addressing gun violence and has co-sponsored several bills aimed at curbing it, including legislation to expand background checks and prevent individuals with a history of domestic violence from purchasing firearms.

Kelly has emphasized the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing gun control and has expressed a willingness to work with colleagues from both parties to find common ground. He is a supporter of the Second Amendment and believes in the right to bear arms, but he also believes in implementing responsible gun control measures to ensure public safety. Kelly seeks to balance the protection of gun rights with the implementation of common-sense gun control measures to prevent gun violence and keep communities safe.

Kelly has been critical of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its influence on gun control policies, advocating for reforms to reduce the organization's impact on shaping gun legislation. He supports banning high-capacity magazines as part of efforts to reduce the lethality of mass shootings and other gun-related incidents. Kelly recognizes the importance of addressing mental health issues but also emphasizes the need for effective gun control measures to prevent individuals with dangerous intentions from accessing firearms.

Mark Kelly's vote to convict Trump

Mark Kelly, a Democratic Senator from Arizona, voted to convict former President Donald Trump on the article of impeachment for inciting an insurrection. In a statement, Kelly said that he had listened to the testimony during the trial closely and considered the cases put forward by both the House Managers and the defense. He concluded that the evidence demonstrated that Trump incited the violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, with the intention of overturning the decision of the voters of Arizona and other states. Kelly also stated that Trump did nothing to stop the violence because he hoped it would be successful, which made him guilty of the impeachment charge and violating his oath of office.

Kelly, a Navy veteran, emphasized that he had taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and that it was their duty as senators to conduct the trial and make it clear that an attack on their democracy cannot stand. He also noted that it was important to hold Trump accountable for the attack to uphold the rule of law and prevent similar incidents in the future. Kelly's vote to convict Trump was consistent with his previous statements and actions. After the insurrection on January 6, Kelly had signaled that he believed Trump had "violated his oath of office by inciting" the violence. Additionally, both Kelly and his fellow Arizona Democratic Senator, Kyrsten Sinema, had made it plain before the trial that they held Trump responsible for the mob attack that resulted in several deaths and injuries.

Sinema, like Kelly, voted to convict Trump and stated that the former president had "betrayed his oath willfully, as no president has before." She emphasized that Trump incited a violent insurrection due to his refusal to accept the outcome of a free and fair election. Sinema also highlighted the importance of loyalty to the Constitution over political parties or individuals to rebuild Americans' faith in their democracy. The votes to convict by Sinema and Kelly were not surprising, given their prior statements and their presence in the Senate chamber during the attack on January 6.

In response to the impeachment trial and the votes to convict, Trump decried the process as a "witch hunt" and celebrated his acquittal. His legal team argued that Trump had not encouraged violence during his speech on January 6 and that his words had been taken out of context. They also contended that the attack on the Capitol was planned and premeditated by his supporters, separate from Trump's influence. Despite the majority of senators voting to convict Trump, the vote fell short of the two-thirds supermajority required for a conviction in the 100-member chamber.

Mark Kelly's support for bipartisanship

Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut and U.S. Navy veteran, has been a strong advocate for bipartisanship during his time in the U.S. Senate. He has positioned himself as a pragmatic centrist and has expressed concern over the increasing polarization and politicization of issues, which he believes hinders the functioning of the government.

Kelly has emphasized his commitment to working with both Democrats and Republicans to address the country's challenges. He has stated that reaching across the aisle and finding common ground between the two parties is crucial for effective governance. This belief in bipartisanship is reflected in his actions, as he assembled a bipartisan transition team after winning the Senate election in Arizona.

Kelly's support for bipartisanship is also evident in his work on various Senate committees. He has collaborated with senators from both parties to address a range of issues, including gun violence, climate change, healthcare, and support for veterans.

One notable example of Kelly's bipartisan efforts is his work on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which aimed to expand background checks for gun purchases, provide funding for mental health services, and prevent individuals convicted of domestic violence from purchasing firearms. This legislation demonstrated Kelly's ability to work across party lines to find solutions to complex issues.

Additionally, Kelly has been a strong advocate for stronger gun laws and has co-founded Giffords, a nonprofit organization that fights for stronger gun laws and holds the gun lobby accountable. He has also pushed for tighter firearms laws, seeking to protect communities from gun violence while respecting the Second Amendment rights of Americans.

In conclusion, Mark Kelly's support for bipartisanship is rooted in his belief that collaboration between Democrats and Republicans is essential for effective governance. He has translated this belief into action through his work on Senate committees, his support for bipartisan legislation, and his commitment to addressing the country's challenges in a non-partisan manner.

Mark Kelly's views on immigration

Mark Kelly, the Arizona Senator, has been vocal about his views on immigration and has often criticized his own party's stance on the issue. Kelly has described the situation at the US-Mexico border as a "mess" and "chaos", and has pushed for stronger border security. He has also been critical of the Biden administration's decision to end Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed officials to turn away asylum seekers under the guise of protecting public health.

Kelly has introduced and supported legislation aimed at bolstering border security and reforming the immigration system. He has advocated for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and has called for reforms to immigration programs to benefit the economy and communities. Kelly believes that the issue of immigration is a national security issue and that Congress has repeatedly failed to address it effectively. He has urged his colleagues in the Senate to work together to find common ground and fix the broken immigration system.

On specific immigration policies, Kelly has expressed support for sanctuary cities and providing temporary amnesty for working illegal immigrants, as long as they have no criminal record. He believes that immigrants should not be banned based on their religion and that deportations should only occur if it is safe for individuals to return to their home countries. Kelly also supports access to government-subsidized healthcare for illegal immigrants and granting legal citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.

Regarding border security, Kelly has called for the deployment of more border personnel, increased pay for these workers, and the use of appropriate technology. He has also supported the construction of physical barriers in certain areas, such as the Morelos Dam in Yuma. Kelly has been critical of Democrats for not understanding the complexities of the border challenge and has emphasized the need for more federal resources to enhance security.

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