Issue Position: Gun Rights

Issue Position

I believe that personally responsible, law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms. As a member of Congress, it will be my duty to uphold and protect this right from overreaching federal legislation. It is my view that each citizen has the moral duty to protect one's self and family and that this is an inalienable liberty. I believe the 2nd Amendment also protects the long tradition of hunting and sport. As a member of Congress, I will fight to ensure law abiding South Carolinian gun owners are protected at the federal level in three main areas:

2nd Amendment's Incorporation to the States: I agree with the Supreme Court's landmark decision of District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized the 2nd Amendment's guarantee of an individual right to keep and bear arms. However, this ruling is in jeopardy if not extended to prevent overreaching anti-gun legislation at the State and Municipal level. A constitutional prohibition against unreasonable gun bans at the federal level, does no good if States and Cities can entirely ban guns on their own. In fact, Chicago currently bans nearly all meaningful forms of handgun ownership. This year, the Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of Chicago's ban in the case of Otis McDonald v. City of Chicago. I believe Chicago's ban is unconstitutional. Such gun bans only serve to disarm law-abiding citizens and do nothing to deter individuals already willing to break the law by committing crimes. I support the brief filed by over 250 current members of Congress in support of the 2nd Amendment's application (incorporation) to State and local municipality laws.

Right to Carry: Statistics overwhelmingly indicate a correlation between responsible armed citizens and a lower crime rate. Moreover, I believe it is an individual's duty to protect one's self or one's family when placed in peril. Although South Carolina currently boasts one of the strongest traditions of gun ownership and corresponding right-to-carry laws in the nation, this right to carry is weak on interstate travel. For this reason, as a member of Congress, I will support the National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009 which would ensure that all responsible South Carolina citizens are allowed to exercise their right to carry while visiting other States, just as they could at home.
Hunting and Shooting: I believe the backbone of South Carolinians is personal responsibility, accountability, and the family. Citizens of our State have a long tradition of hunting and shooting and I believe it is crucial to protect and expand this tradition whenever possible. Quite simply, as a member of Congress, I will support public conservation, shooting ranges, and extensive access to public hunting lands. I understand that numerous anti-gun groups are attempting to alienate shooting, hunting and overall gun ownership. I will oppose these campaigns, including attempted federal bans to limit or impede upon the free production of the most commonly utilized hunting ammunition.

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