Tester introduces bipartisan bill to strengthen gun rights

Legislation would permit law-abiding citizens to bear arms on Army Corps lands

(U.S. SENATE) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen gun rights by allowing law-abiding Americans to possess loaded firearms on lands owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Tester supported similar legislation in 2009 that permitted law-abiding citizens to carry loaded guns in National Parks.

Tester’s bill, the Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act of 2011, would put an end to the patchwork of regulations that govern different lands managed by various federal agencies.

Tester, Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, said gun owners need to be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights when they are legally camping, hunting, and fishing on land and water managed by the Army Corps.

“This is just one more way that I’m strengthening our Second Amendment rights,” Tester said.  “This bill is pretty cut and dry: law-abiding folks shouldn’t have to give up their right to keep and bear arms in order to use the land and water we all own.”

Tester’s legislation is strongly endorsed by the National Rifle Association.

The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for nearly 12 million acres of land and water in the U.S.

Tester’s Army Corps bill is online HERE. 

His bill to allow combat veterans to register trophy firearms is online HERE.

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