Issue Position: Protecting the Rights of Sportsmen

Issue Position

Hunting and fishing are a vital part of our nation's heritage. Each year, thousands of young men and women take to the woods and streams for the first time. Congressman Altmire is committed to ensuring that this tradition continues. Since coming to Congress, he has been an outspoken activist for more than 1.4 million hunters and anglers in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, as a proud supporter of the Second Amendment, he has fought vigorously to protect an individual's right to own a firearm.

Reforming BATFE Oversight of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealers
In March 2011, Congressman Altmire introduced legislation designed to safeguard Americans' Second Amendment rights and ensure that federally licensed firearms dealers are not subject to poorly formulated and unnecessary regulations. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Reform Act (H.R. 1093) would modernize and improve the BATFE so that it can do a better job of keeping guns out of the hands of criminals without placing undue restrictions on local businesses. Congressman Altmire's legislation, which was endorsed by the National Rifle Association, would also protect gun owners' privacy by permanently prohibiting the creation of a centralized electronic index of dealers' records. For more information, see: Altmire Introduces Legislation to Protect Gun Owners' Rights, Reform Oversight of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealers.

Preserving Sportsmen's Access to Public Lands
When Congress debated a massive public lands bill that opened the door to restrictions on hunting activities, Congressman Altmire took action to protect sportsmen's rights. He inserted the "Altmire Amendment" in the National Landscape Conservation System Act (H.R 2016) and succeeded in protecting sportsmen's right to hunt, fish and trap on millions of acres of public land.

Protecting Americans' Second Amendment Rights
Congressman Altmire has consistently opposed attempts to restrict our Second Amendment rights. He signed two Friend of the Court briefs supporting an individual's right to bear arms in the Supreme Court cases McDonald v. City of Chicago and District of Columbia v. Heller. The Supreme Court's ruling in each of these cases sided with Congressman Altmire's position and affirmed Americans' Second Amendment rights. When the District of Columbia once again tried to restrict its citizens' constitutional rights, Congressman Altmire helped to introduce the Second Amendment Enforcement Act (H.R. 645) to overturn the City Council's actions. The Second Amendment Enforcement Act was passed the House on September 17, 2008 by a vote of 260 to 160.

National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act
Congressman Altmire believes that law-abiding citizens who are licensed to carry concealed weapons in their home state should be able to do so nationwide. Therefore, he has cosponsored the National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 822), legislation that would allow citizens to carry firearms nationwide with a state permit.

Supporting Legislation Upholding Americans' Right to Bear Arms
Congressman Altmire has cosponsored many pieces of legislation that will benefit Pennsylvania sportsmen and safeguard Americans' Second Amendment rights. The Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act (H.R. 442) would allow veterans to register firearms acquired during wartime. Congressman Altmire is committed to moving each of these bills through Congress and seeing them signed into law.

Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
Congressman Altmire is an active member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. This Caucus was formed to advance and protect the rights of our nation's hunters and fishermen. Over the years, it has provided Members of Congress with a valuable opportunity to meet and discuss issues affecting our nation's sportsmen.

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