The Second Amendment

The Second Amendment gives every law-abiding citizen the right to keep and bear arms. As a lifelong hunter and sportsman, I have a sincere appreciation for the lessons gained from responsible gun ownership and use. I deeply respect the freedoms guaranteed to us by the Second Amendment, and will always oppose burdensome regulations that attempt to limit the Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.

Protecting and Promoting Second Amendment Rights

While in office, I have supported various pieces of legislation that protect our Second Amendment rights. In the 110th Congress, I voted for the Childers Amendment to the Second Amendment Enforcement Act. This amendment inserted new text that intended to restore second amendment rights within the home for self-protection.

In the 111th Congress, I have cosponsored the National Reciprocity Bill, H.R. 197, which essentially allows a person with a conceal carry license to carry a concealed weapon in states other than the one in which they are licensed, as long as they are in accordance with their own state's conceal carry laws. I also cosponsored the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009, H.R. 2296, which permits the owner of a firearms business 60 days to liquidate inventory if his or her license is expired, surrendered, or revoked. Additionally, I cosponsored the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act, H.R. 1074, which eliminates the requirement that a licensee can only conduct business at a gun show in the state specified on the licensee's license.

I have voted in support of legislation that promotes the interests of hunters and sportsmen, including the Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010, H.R. 510. This legislation, which passed the House of Representatives in July 2010, changes the excise tax payment schedule for firearm and ammunition manufacturers from a biweekly to a quarterly schedule. This bill does not create a new tax; it will simply create a more efficient system and expedite the collection of tax debt.

Promoting Gun Safety Education

Almost half of all American homes have a gun. Proper gun safety education, through programs like the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, is one of the most effective ways to prevent gun-related injuries or deaths among children.

I was proud to be able to honor this exemplary program by sponsoring a resolution commending the Eddie Eagle program. This resolution currently has 135 cosponsors. I am glad programs like Eddie Eagle exist so that my children and millions of others throughout the nation can learn the fundamentals of gun safety.