2nd Amendment

As a 29-year Air Force combat veteran and seven-year POW in Vietnam who fought to protect our democracy and uphold our Constitution, I am a proud supporter of the right to keep and bear arms.  Eligible, law-abiding citizens should have the right to purchase and own firearms!

Citizens may choose to own a firearm for a variety of purposes including hunting, collecting, sport, or personal protection – all of which are valid, honest reasons.  

I believe that the efforts of individuals who are trying to combat crime through gun control are simply wrongheaded.  Such efforts do not take firearms from criminals, but rather from law abiding citizens.  After all, criminals, by definition, do not respect the law.  They will seek out illegal avenues to obtain guns and other weapons of choice.  With over 20,000 federal, state, and local gun laws in existence, it is clear that more gun control laws are not the answer to eliminating gun violence.  

Instead of punishing law-abiding Americans with new onerous restrictions, I firmly believe the best way to reduce gun crime is to enforce existing laws and fully prosecute those who use firearms in an illegal manner.

In Washington, I am proud to have consistently received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and the Gun Owners of America for my voting record in support of the 2nd Amendment.  Please rest assured that I will continue to fight to ensure the federal government does not pass any law that infringes upon your Constitutional freedom to own and bear firearms.

Recent Actions to protect YOUR 2nd Amendment rights include:

• Cosponsor of H.R. 1739, the FIREARM Act.  This bill would simply prohibit the federal government from requiring race or ethnicity to be disclosed in connection with the purchase of a firearm. * This bill is NRA supported.
• Cosponsor of H.R. 131, a bill that would strengthen federal protections for Americans traveling with firearms or ammunition.  It makes clear that the transportation of both firearms and ammunition is federally protected and expands the protections currently afforded to travelers.  * This bill is NRA supported. 
• Cosponsor of H.R. 1365, the Ammunition and Firearms Protection Act.  This bill would specifically prevent the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from classifying ammunition – intended for the use in a rifle – as “armor-piercing.”  This includes the M855 ammunition that the ATF recently proposed to classify as “armor-piercing.” 
• Cosponsor of H.R. 986, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015.  This bill would ensure that valid concealed carry permits issued in one state are valid for carrying a concealed weapon in any other state that recognize their residents’ rights to carry a concealed weapon. * This is NRA supported.