WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced the Sporting Firearms Access Act to stop the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) from arbitrarily blocking imports of firearms and ammunition. The Sporting Firearms Access Act clarifies the definition of “sporting purposes” used by the ATF to regulate the import of firearms into the U.S. to recognize firearms and ammunition used for 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,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Changing the definition protects Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights and enjoying our paradise.”
“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,” said Senator Risch. “My Sporting Firearms Access Act sets the ATF’s definition of sporting purposes straight to ensure Idaho’s hunters, skeet shooters, and sportsmen are not denied the import of firearms or ammunition to enjoy these pastimes.”
Under the Gun Control Act of 1968, firearms and ammunition can only be imported if the ATF recognizes it as being suitable for “sporting purposes.” Ambiguity in the law has allowed the ATF to arbitrarily deny imports of firearms by U.S. customers and businesses. The Sporting Firearms Access Act would prohibit the ATF from denying items that are substantially similar to those in circulation in the U.S. and require the agency to work with the firearms industry to determine what items are suitable for sporting purposes. The bill also provides an appeals process for wrongful determinations and a means for judicial review.
Cassidy and Risch were joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Ted Budd (R-NC) in introducing the legislation.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Shooting Sports Foundation support this legislation.
Background
Last week, Cassidy reintroduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that allows concealed carry alongside 43 Republican colleagues. Learn more here.
Last Congress, Cassidy was named to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s “Dean’s List,” which recognizes lawmakers who have gone above and beyond the A+ rating to protect Second Amendment rights. Learn more here.
###