The following comments were made April 11, 2013, by Rep. Steve Daines on gun ownership regulations proposed in the U.S. Senate

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The Senate’s gun control proposals undermine the Constitutional rights of thousands of law-abiding Montanans. I am committed to fighting against these efforts and any that threaten Montanans’ right to keep and bear arms.

These proposals will do nothing but expand Washington bureaucracy and further complicate the ability of law-abiding Montanans to purchase firearms, while doing little to actually address the underlying problems behind violent crimes.

As a fifth-generation Montanan and lifelong sportsman, I am deeply concerned about the Senate’s proposal to expand background checks for private sales to Montana citizens, which would criminalize the private transfer of firearms between law-abiding Montanans, and I stand in strong opposition to them.

The Senate’s recent decision to focus debate on restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens is the wrong approach. I have joined my colleagues in the House in demanding that the House block any legislation that threatens to infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.

Let me be clear. I am strongly opposed to and will fight back against any efforts that infringe upon Montanans’ Second Amendment rights.