Dusty Johnson U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Dusty Johnson U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district | Official U.S. House Headshot
U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson from South Dakota has reintroduced the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act, aiming to address gaps in firearm registration paperwork and bolster Second Amendment rights. Senator Mike Rounds, also from South Dakota, is leading similar efforts in the Senate.
The bill successfully passed the House Judiciary Committee in January 2024. Johnson stated, "Many servicemembers and military spouses haven’t been able to obtain a firearm due to gaps in the address verification process. This is a commonsense bill to ensure these individuals can practice their Second Amendment rights."
Senator Rounds expressed his support for the legislation by highlighting the unique living situations of many Americans. "As a hunter, a lawful gun owner and a supporter of the Second Amendment, I am committed to protecting the rights of lawful gun owners," he said. "The laws currently on the books do not go far enough in acknowledging the unique living situations of many Americans, including military families and full-time travelers."
John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA, emphasized that active-duty military personnel and full-time travelers often use P.O. boxes as their legal addresses. He remarked, "Sadly, what works for the IRS is not good enough for the ATF, leaving those who serve or travel full-time in a Constitutional catch-22."
Lawrence G. Keane from the National Shooting Sports Foundation supported this view: "Americans, especially our active-duty military members, should never be denied the full spectrum of their Second Amendment rights simply because they use a post office box address instead of a physical address." He added that Congressman Johnson's leadership on this issue is commendable.
The Traveler’s Gun Rights Act allows law-abiding RV-ers and others who rely on P.O. Boxes as their primary mailing addresses to obtain firearms legally. The current Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulations require buyers to list an address but prohibit using P.O. Boxes or Private Mailboxes (PMB). This rule affects full-time travelers who live year-round in RVs and receive mail through such means.
The act is cosponsored by Representatives Doug LaMalfa from California, Dan Crenshaw from Texas, and Scott Perry from Pennsylvania.
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