Since our country’s earliest days, our laws and traditions have afforded citizens the right to protect themselves and their property. In fact, our founding documents specifically ensure Americans’ right to keep and bear arms – most explicitly in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

As a lawmaker, I have never wavered in defense of law-abiding citizens’ right to own and use firearms whether for hunting, recreation or self-defense. In fact, I have helped secure important victories for the Second Amendment and defeat policies like so-called assault weapons bans and international treaties that would violate our national sovereignty to regulate the lawful ownership of firearms.

The 119th Congress is still in the early stages, but already my colleagues and I have been championing bills to protect and strengthen this foundational right for ourselves and future generations.

I am especially pleased to have lent my support to several pro-Second Amendment bills and other actions that would serve to enhance the rights of hunters, shooting sportsmen, firearms enthusiasts and even gun manufacturers and retailers.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is a commonsense proposal to allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that allows concealed carry. It essentially would treat state-issued concealed carry permits like drivers’ licenses while upholding state sovereignty. 

A related issue involving the rights of potential firearms owners like RV-ers, active-duty military, military spouses and others who rely on a P.O. Box for their primary mailing address but are unable to obtain a firearm due to lack of a permanent physical address. A sensible remedy, the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act, would require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to allow those in this unique situation to complete transaction paperwork accurately and still obtain a weapon legally.

Two other important initiatives deal with expanding access to guns and accessories to responsible individuals wishing to exercise their gun rights.

The Hearing Protection Act would make suppressors easier to obtain and help preserve gun owners’ hearing and safety. Likewise, I was proud to join Senator Tom Cotton’s (R-AR) Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act to remove a burdensome tax and bureaucratic hoops imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act. Law-abiding, responsible Americans should not have to fight the current burdensome regulations and financial hurdles to enjoy their hobbies safely and with the accessories that can protect them.

But individual firearms enthusiasts are not alone in facing obstacles that need to be overcome.

That is why I have joined many colleagues calling on the Trump administration to reverse a Biden-era rule restricting firearm exports for law-abiding American manufacturers. Similarly, we have put forward the Fair Access to Banking Act to ensure our country’s financial institutions are not able to target lawful, legal industries – including firearms and ammunition companies – from being refused lending or services.

Finally, our veterans certainly do not sacrifice their Second Amendment right to purchase or own firearms if they receive help managing their Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. Reversing a misguided interpretation of current law that blocks these former servicemembers from exercising their right to bear arms, which theVeterans Second Amendment Protection Act would do, will help curtail bureaucracy at its worst. 

I am a proud supporter of the Second Amendment right to bear arms who believes disarming law-abiding citizens is unconstitutional and does not help reduce violent crime. I will always work to protect this right for the people of Arkansas.