Throughout my career, I have worked to protect and preserve the Second Amendment. Mississippians understand and respect the responsible exercise of this fundamental right.

A recent push for restrictive gun-control legislation has reignited the debate about the role of government in gun ownership. Gun-control advocates insist that more rules are the answer to gun-related violence. Some have launched new advertising campaigns to drum up public support and media attention. Rather than adding new laws and regulatory burdens, Congress should focus on ways to make existing laws more effective. The goal should be to increase safety and punish criminals – not unfairly hurt law-abiding gun owners.

UN Arms Trade Treaty

The debate on gun control will not be the first time the 113th Congress addresses a Second Amendment issue. During the recent budget debate, the Senate considered an amendment to prevent the United States from joining the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. The measure, introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), was passed by a vote of 53 to 46 – putting the Senate squarely on record against attempts to violate Americans’ right to bear arms.

The timing of Sen. Inhofe’s budget amendment was especially appropriate, as UN member states convened in late March for the final round of negotiations on a treaty to regulate the international transfer of conventional arms. Similar talks collapsed in July of last year shortly after a majority of U.S. Senators expressed their concerns with the treaty’s questionable impact on constitutional rights and U.S. sovereignty. The United States remains the world’s largest arms exporter, making America’s involvement critical for the UN treaty to work.

Like many of my colleagues, I have repeatedly stated my opposition to the UN effort since the Obama Administration first agreed in 2009 to take part in the treaty’s negotiations. In March, I co-sponsored a Senate resolution outlining the many reasons that President Obama should not sign the agreement, including the “significant risks to the national security, foreign policy, and economic interests of the United States.”

The Constitution gives the Senate the exclusive authority to provide advice and consent on treaties, with two-thirds’ approval required for ratification. This duty requires defending the freedoms established by our Founding Fathers against international efforts to curb them.

Protecting Veterans

I remain committed to upholding the Constitution and protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights. I have consistently supported measures that would do so, such as the Veterans’ Second Amendment Protection Act introduced earlier this year. The legislation would ensure that veterans and their families are not unfairly prohibited from purchasing a firearm if the Department of Veterans Affairs provides assistance with their federal benefits. The current process does not differentiate between individuals who simply cannot handle their financial responsibilities and those who might pose a danger to themselves or others.

Keeping the spotlight on the Second Amendment will be crucial in the days ahead as the Senate considers gun-control proposals from the Obama Administration and Senate Democrats. Lawmakers have already expressed their willingness to defend the Second Amendment by supporting an amendment to block the UN Arms Trade Treaty. Domestic policy should be treated the same.

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