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February 19, 2025
NSSF PROFILE Q&A: U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to post the latest of our occasional Q&A features with an elected official who supports hunting and the shooting sports. NSSF thanks U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) for speaking with us about his staunch support for the Second Amendment and the importance of the firearm and ammunition industry to his constituents in the Natural State. Sen. Cotton is serving in his second six-year term in in the U.S. Senate, after serving for two years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sen. Cotton is currently seated on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where he serves on the Energy and Public Lands subcommittees; the Armed Services Committee, where he serves on Airland, Cybersecurity, and Strategic Forces subcommittees; the Intelligence Committee, where he serves as the chairman; and the Joint Economic Committee. Sen. Cotton is the third-ranking member in the Senate Republican leadership as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.
Sen. Cotton served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team. Between his two combat tours, Sen. Cotton served with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery and his military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Ranger Tab.
1) Who introduced you to hunting and shooting sports, and why are hunting and the shooting sports important to you in your job representing Arkansans?
I have early memories of going out on the farm and learning how to properly shoot a gun from my dad as a kid and hunting with neighbors and friends in my later years. In a rural state like Arkansas, hunting and shooting sports are a way of life and central to our state’s identity. I keep those issues front of mind in the Senate, especially in my work on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
2) What was your most recent shooting sports/hunting experience?
I had the opportunity to test out the Army’s new next generation ammunition which was a lot of fun. The ammunition is produced in Arkansas by SIG Sauer. It’s great to see an Arkansas company playing such a critical role in our national security.
3) Describe your favorite shooting sports or hunting activity.
Duck hunting in Arkansas can’t be beat. Especially in the fall, which is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Natural State.
4) Which piece of pending legislation in Washington, D.C., related to the conservation, hunting and the firearm industry is particularly important to you and why? Or what is your next priority for protecting the Second Amendment rights of Arkansans, and Americans more widely?
This Congress, I have sponsored important legislation to protect firearm businesses from being de-banked and legislation to remove onerous regulations around the classification of firearm parts. One specific bill that has gained considerable momentum is the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow individuals with carry privileges in their home state to carry a concealed handgun in any other states that also allow concealed carry. On the campaign trail, President Trump promised to sign this bill if it makes it to his desk. Every day, millions of Americans safely and legally carry a firearm to defend themselves and their loved ones; that right shouldn’t end at the state line. Its passage would be a major step in restoring Second Amendment rights and creating a safer America for law-abiding citizens.
5) What do you see as the challenges and opportunities in Washington, D.C., or more broadly the country, for hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts, now that there is a new pro-Second Amendment administration returning to the White House?
With President Trump in the White House, I am optimistic about the future of gun rights. One of the early challenges of this administration will be selecting an ATF Director who understands firearms and will put an end to the agency’s attack on the Second Amendment. The Biden administration took every occasion to implement unconstitutional gun control policies aimed at destroying firearm businesses and criminalizing gun owners. With President Trump’s leadership, and support from a Republican Congress, we now have the opportunity to roll back Biden’s disastrous policies and advance an agenda that protects the Second Amendment.
You may also be interested in:
NSSF Commends Senator Cornyn’s Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act Introduction
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