In South Dakota, the Second Amendment is a fundamental part of our way of life. Growing up on my family’s farm near Houghton and the Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge in the northeast part of the state, I appreciate that outdoors activities are a great South Dakota tradition and vital to our state’s economy. Our wonderful culture of recreation and outdoors activities contributes greatly to our high quality of life, and in Congress, I continue to work on behalf of our sportsmen and women. We are all lucky to live in our state, and have an obligation and opportunity to preserve the nation’s best quality of life for future generations. Guns are a part of South Dakota and I will fight to protect the rights of responsible gun owners in our state.

I am pleased to have received an “A” rating from the NRA because of my support of the rights of gun owners. As a defender of our Second Amendment rights, I support allowing law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to carry firearms for personal protection. I oppose federal firearm registration and licensing and attempts to limit gun owners’ rights through bans on types of firearms or ammunition. Additionally, I oppose extending or renewing the assault weapons ban because I believe that gun violence, not gun ownership, should be the focus of legislation that affects our Second Amendment rights.

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