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Republican bill brings firearms debate to Indian Country
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Indianz.Com
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Republican-led bill to ensure tribal identification cards can be used to purchase firearms is moving forward in the 118th Congress.
After just a few minutes of consideration, the House Committee on the Judiciary approved H.R.1709, the Tribal Firearm Access Act, at a markup on Thursday morning. But no testimony was taken on the measure, which supporters described as a recognition of the right to bear arms in Indian Country.
“The Tribal Firearms Access Act is a simple and straightforward bill that allows members of federally recognized Indian tribes to use their valid identification documents issued by tribal governments to obtain a firearm from a federally licensed dealer,” said Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming), a new member of Congress who also serves as chair of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, the legislative panel with jurisdiction over Indian Country legislation.
During the markup on Thursday, the only Democrat who spoke about the Tribal Firearms Access Act was Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-New York), the ranking member of the House Committee on the Judiciary. He described the bill as “reasonable” and said he would work with Republicans to ensure that tribal government documents are recognized in federal law in as many areas as possible. “It is our hope that we can reach an agreement that includes tribal IDs, tribal governments, and Native Americans in a more expansive way than just allowing tribal IDs for gun purchases,” Nadler said. “Such an agreement would serve to correct the broader injustice of failing to include tribal governments in more provisions of the law and would prevent tribes from having to seek recognition of one law or one right at a time.” During the session, Hageman introduced a substitute version of H.R.1209. She said the replacement clarifies that a tribal identification card must contain a photo of the carrier in order for it to be accepted as valid for the purchase of a firearm. “This amendment in the nature of a substitute makes a small but important change,” Hageman said. “It makes it clear that the tribal identification must have a photograph of the individual.” The committee then accepted the amendment by a voice vote and approved H.R.1209 by a voice vote. No lawmakers expressed opposition during either vote. The Tribal Firearms Access Act can now be considered for passage by the full U.S. House of Representatives. Since the start of the 118th Congress in January 2023, Republican leaders have placed a priority on Second Amendment legislation amid ongoing disruption and disagreement within their party in the chamber. When Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was elected as Speaker of the House last October following a Republican revolt, one gun violence prevention organization described him as an “extremist who has put the will of the gun lobby ahead of the safety of Americans.” “By choosing Johnson as Speaker, the Republican party has made it clear that it has no interest in addressing public safety,” said Peter Ambler of the GIFFORDS organization founded by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona), who was a victim of gun violence in her Congressional district in Arizona in 2011. The U.S. Senate version of the Tribal Firearms Access Act is S.909. The bill was introduced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), who is the first tribal citizen to serve in the chamber in nearly two decades. “Tribal citizens, and all law-abiding Americans, have a fundamental right to keep and bear arms,” said Mullin, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “For too long, a lapse in existing law has prohibited tribal members from using their tribal government-issued ID to lawfully purchase firearms. Our commonsense legislation corrects this unconstitutional infringement.”As Alaska’s Representative, I understand what guns mean to our state.
— Mary Peltola (@MaryPeltola) October 29, 2022
When I’m in Congress, I will stand up for the Second Amendment — whether it’s hunting, self-defense, or recreation — because Alaska just wouldn’t be Alaska without guns. #MaryForCongress pic.twitter.com/FOnPvjQLvL
House Committee on the Judiciary Notice
Markup of H.R. 5736, H.R. 1508, H.R. 1709, H.R. 5585, H.R. 6976, H.R. 6678, H.R. 6679 (January 18, 2024)
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