We Must Always Protect the Second Amendment

By Congressman Mike Simpson

Washington, D.C. – “Throughout my time in Congress, I have considered it one of my most serious responsibilities to protect Second Amendment rights for Idahoans.  Anti-gun movements have come and gone, but the need to preserve the right to own firearms is as evergreen as the day I took office.  That is why I continue to push back on dangerous and misguided attempts to curb gun ownership in Congress.

“The Second Amendment to the Constitution explicitly states: “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”  Despite the Biden Administration’s repeated attempts to impose new firearm regulations, I firmly believe this provision prohibits the federal government from denying citizens the right to bear arms. 

“For example, I am deeply concerned that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has repeatedly overstepped its mandate to protect communities from violent crimes by issuing new rules that go after law-abiding gun owners.  From reclassifying gun kits, to cementing gun registries, and denying suppressor applications made by lawful gun owners, it is clear that the Biden Administration’s back-door gun control strategy is picking up steam.  That is why I sent a letter to the ATF demanding they stop efforts to curtail fundamental Second Amendment rights.

“In Congress, I continue to support many initiatives that protect gun ownership, eliminate onerous existing limitations on gun ownership, and prevent additional limitations from being realized.  I will also continue to push back against the Biden Administration’s efforts to limit lawful gun ownership.

“Among the many pro-gun initiatives in which I am participating, I have:

• Cosponsored H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2021.  This legislation would provide law-abiding citizens the right to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes.
• Cosponsored H.R. 3101, the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises Act (RIFLE) Act. This bill would remove the excise tax on the transfer of firearms.
• Remained strongly opposed to any congressional attempt to reauthorize the so-called “assault weapons” ban and will vote against it should it come before Congress for consideration.  Semi-automatic rifles, including many defined as “assault weapons” by the 1994 federal gun ban are, by and large, used for lawful activities like marksmanship competitions, hunting, and target shooting.  Very rarely is a weapon previously covered by the ban used for illegal activities.

“I will not support any legislation that requires a waiting period for the purchase of a firearm, bans the ownership of firearms, or promotes or requires the rationing or taxation of firearms or ammunition.  Contrary to the claims of gun control advocates, gun ownership is not the source of the national surge in crime.  Illegal firearms trafficking and our “revolving door” justice system are significant contributing factors.  Rather than curb law-abiding citizens’ Constitutional rights, we must impose stiff sentences on criminals who commit violent crimes.  I take a back seat to no one when it comes to preserving Second Amendment rights.  It has and will always be one of my top priorities in Congress, and I have a record to prove it.”

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