Former South Carolina congressman and Fox News host Trey Gowdy is facing sharp criticism from conservative commentators and gun-rights activists after suggesting on air that additional firearm restrictions may be needed to protect children. In a recent Fox News segment, Gowdy argued that Americans must "pick between protecting children or freedom," a remark interpreted by critics as support for red-flag laws and other gun-control measures. Influential right-wing media personalities and groups, including Gun Owners of America, accused Gowdy of abandoning the Second Amendment, citing the amendment’s guarantee that the right to keep and bear arms "shall not be infringed." Several commentators warned that proposals allowing authorities to seize weapons from individuals deemed a risk would erode due-process protections and leave law-abiding citizens defenseless. Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor who once chaired the House Benghazi investigation, has not publicly responded to the backlash. His comments come amid renewed national debate over gun violence after a string of high-profile mass shootings, and underscore divisions within Republican ranks over how—or whether—to tighten firearm regulations while safeguarding constitutional rights.