I’m something of a homebody. I like to be at home, and while I do enjoy traveling from time to time, I’m always happy being at home, too.
But some people are a lot more transient than that. They live a lifestyle that involves them being in different places all the time, from a few days to a few years, but never quite settling in just one place for all that long.
I’ve got friends who are on that spectrum for a variety of reasons, and an op-ed from Senator John Boozman of Arkansas touched on an issue they face with regard to gun rights, and what he is trying to do about it.
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.
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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.
Boozman brings up other pro-gun measures he’s backing, but this last one is one that I think has flown under the radar a bit, and it should be something of a no-brainer to pass.
Every person who purchases a firearm from a licensed dealer still has to go through a background check. That wouldn’t change in any way. Instead, it would simply allow people who live a transient lifestyle to purchase firearms lawfully. As it stands, they’re either denied a firearm or they have to lie about their address, which is a felony. That shouldn’t be the case.
Especially when we’re talking about military personnel and their spouses.
I mean, if a soldier has access to anti-tank weapons as a part of their job, I think we can trust them to buy a 9mm handgun.
And again, both the soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or whoever will still have to undergo a background check.
There’s literally no reason not to do this.
Yet I suspect the anti-gunners in the Senate will try to jam this up. We can’t let them.
Read the full article here
