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December 6, 2023
NSSF PROFILE Q&A: U.S. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.)
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. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) for agreeing to talk with us. Rep. Guest is serving in his third term representing Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Congressman Guest serves in the U.S. House of Representatives on the House Committee on Ethics, where he is the committee’s Chairman. Rep. Guest also serves on the House Appropriations Committee and on the House Homeland Security Committee. Rep. Guest is also a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.
1) Who introduced you to hunting and the shooting sports?
Growing up in Mississippi, hunting and shooting sports were a huge part of the culture and of my life. Hunting is a beloved pastime in Mississippi. In the fall and winter, Mississippians wake up early to hunt deer and ducks; in the spring, we are focused on turkey hunting. We also enjoy shooting clays and honing our skills. Some of my greatest memories are the times I have spent hunting with my two sons. I am thankful for these great memories through the years on these outings.
2) Describe your most recent hunting or shooting sports activity.
I had the pleasure of participating in an NSSF PAC-sponsored clay shoot recently and had a great time.
3) Describe your favorite hunting or shooting sports activity.
Through the years, I have enjoyed various types of hunting – from doves and ducks to deer and turkey. My favorite is deer hunting and I cherish the times I have shared with my sons in the outdoors enjoying God’s creation.
4) Which piece of pending legislation related to the conservation, hunting and the firearm industry is particularly important to you and why?
I have been proud to support numerous efforts through my work in Congress to uphold the Second Amendment rights of Mississippians and the American people. From the first mention of the Biden Administration’s efforts to limit hunting and shooting education, I joined a letter urging reconsideration and legislation to override these decisions. Fortunately, H.R. 5110, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, a bill I was pleased to cosponsor, passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by President Biden to ensure that these recreational shooting sports are not affected. I am concerned about the Administration’s restrictions on pistol stabilizing braces within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). While I am disappointed that legislation to overturn the ATF’s pistol brace rule did not pass the Senate after it was approved in the House earlier this year, I believe that the ATF’s overreach must be halted. I will continue to work with my colleagues to push back on the Biden Administration’s suppression of Second Amendment rights.
5) What do you see as the challenges and opportunities for hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts?
Sportsmen unfortunately experience government red tape that often seeks to create unnecessary burdens for gun owners, hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts. As a member of the Congressional Sportsman Caucus, I am committed to fighting these governmental barriers. I will continue to use all possible avenues to ensure Second Amendment rights, and the rights of landowners who support these activities, are protected.
Categories: BP Item, Featured, Government Relations, Top Stories
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