House Republicans Urge Army to Support Second Amendment Rights
A coalition of House Republicans is urging the Department of the Army to safeguard the Second Amendment rights of citizens on federal lands managed by the agency.
Led by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, twenty Republican members sent a letter to Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll on Tuesday. They’re asking him to direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to “quickly finalize and implement” rule changes established during Donald Trump’s presidency. These changes would enable Americans to carry firearms in accordance with state laws on the roughly 12 million acres overseen by the Corps.
The letter pointed out that, “While many federal agencies acknowledge the lawful exercise of Second Amendment rights on the lands they manage, it’s a different case for USACE-managed lands,” stating that the Corps remains the only significant federal land management agency with a broad prohibition on legal firearm carry.
The lawmakers noted that a bipartisan bill passed in 2009 allowed firearms to be carried on National Park Service lands, but the Obama administration did not extend this to USACE lands.
“Right now, millions of public lands are still bound by outdated rules that other agencies have long since discarded,” the representatives commented.
The USACE is in charge of over 11.7 million acres of land nationwide, which includes 90,000 campgrounds, 400 lake and river projects, and 4,000 miles of trails.
Fallon expressed that, “Public lands present a complex mix of jurisdictions, and Americans cross invisible boundaries daily. While the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management respect Second Amendment rights, USACE lands are an outdated exception.”
He also highlighted the importance of completing the proposed rule to align it with state laws, advocating for full constitutional protections on the Corps’ lands. “Americans should have the ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights without arbitrary federal restrictions,” the lawmakers underscored.
The signatories of the letter include Republicans like Brian Babin, Lance Gooden, and Buddy Carter, among others, as well as several Republican senators.
They noted that many constituents in their districts enjoy activities managed by the Corps and have raised concerns about the firearm restrictions. “Recreational areas under Corps control often lack law enforcement presence, making lawful self-defense even more critical,” they stated.
They added, “Additionally, threats to wildlife are significant in these regions. Individuals who can legally carry firearms shouldn’t have to disarm simply by crossing a federal boundary.”
