Sullivan Votes to Protect Second Amendment Rights of Alaskans

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

06.24.22

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) issued the following statement after voting against the Senate gun-control legislation.

“One of my top priorities as a U.S. Senator has been to work with my colleagues on vitally-needed solutions to address the mental health crisis, especially among young Americans, that is unfolding across our nation. This is a challenge that is clearly at the heart of the recent horrific shootings. This is where our focus should be, and this legislation represents a good start in that regard. The authors of this legislation included provisions that I believe could help address mental health challenges. As a cosponsor of the STOP School Violence Act, enacted in 2018, I was also pleased to see significant funding included to improve school safety.

“However, the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and I have repeatedly committed to Alaskans that I will not support any legislation that infringes on that right. In that regard, I have serious concerns about the broad discretion this legislation leaves up to federal courts and Biden administration officials as it relates to the implementation and interpretation of the bill’s vaguely defined firearms restrictions and due process provisions. Alaska is unique. Alaskans use firearms for protection, hunting, subsistence, and recreation—and we take any infringement on our Second Amendment rights very seriously.”

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