Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Jim Risch have introduced the Sporting Firearms Access Act, a bill aimed at preventing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) from denying imports of firearms and ammunition based on their interpretation of "sporting purposes." The proposed legislation seeks to redefine this term to include activities such as hunting, target shooting, and competitions.

"Louisiana is a sportsman’s paradise, but Joe Biden’s ATF is trying to punish law-abiding Louisianans who are exercising their Second Amendment rights," stated Dr. Cassidy. He emphasized that changing the definition would protect Americans exercising these rights.

Senator Risch expressed similar concerns: "The ATF will stop at nothing to put a chokehold on law-abiding gun owners’ Second Amendment rights. Barring the import of firearms for legal sporting activities is bureaucratic red tape at its finest."

The Gun Control Act of 1968 currently allows firearm imports only if deemed suitable for "sporting purposes" by the ATF. The new bill aims to eliminate ambiguity in this definition by prohibiting the denial of items similar to those already in circulation in the U.S. It also mandates collaboration with the firearms industry to determine suitability for sporting purposes and introduces an appeals process for contested decisions.

Joining Cassidy and Risch in sponsoring this legislation are Senators Mike Crapo, Cynthia Lummis, Rick Scott, John Cornyn, Steve Daines, Roger Wicker, Roger Marshall, Tim Sheehy, Thom Tillis, Pete Ricketts, and Ted Budd.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Shooting Sports Foundation have expressed support for this legislative effort.

In related news, Senator Cassidy recently reintroduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act alongside 43 Republican colleagues. This act would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in other states permitting concealed carry.

Cassidy was also recognized last Congress by the National Shooting Sports Foundation's “Dean’s List” for his efforts in protecting Second Amendment rights.