Issue Position: Second Amendment

Issue Position

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right of each law-abiding American to keep and bear arms. The amendment seems clear, but opponents have long sought to restrict Americans' rights. Sen. Murkowski has worked hard to ensure that this basic constitutional right is preserved. Many Alaskans depend upon their firearms as a means of subsistence, recreation and protection, and the Second Amendment protects them.

Throughout the 112th Congress, fresh concerns over restrictions of the Second Amendment are bound to come up. Despite these challenges, firearm enthusiasts have many reasons to remain positive. In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court re-affirmed that the Second Amendment confers an individual's right to keep and bear arms. Despite repeated stalling by the Majority party, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, new laws bringing consistency and common sense to firearm regulations on federal land and federally-subsidized train service. The Senate has also passed legislation protecting the rights of individuals in the District of Columbia, and the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs has passed legislation protecting the rights of veterans.

Sen. Murkowski has worked with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring common sense to firearm laws on Federal lands. Currently, firearms are allowed to be carried in accordance with federal, state, and local laws on land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. As of June 2009, functional firearms are permitted in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges, though firearms are still prohibited in some buildings and secure areas.

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