Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Another Anti-Gun Extremist Promoted for Biden’s Cabinet

Monday, March 8, 2021

Another Anti-Gun Extremist Promoted for Biden’s Cabinet

President Biden’s nominee to serve as United States Secretary of the Interior, U.S. Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM), is yet another cog Biden hopes to fit into his administration’s anti-gun machine. Perhaps it would be more newsworthy if we only reported on Biden nominees that don’t support gutting the Second Amendment, but then we might have nothing to say.

As for Haaland, in her brief stint in Congress, to which she was first elected in 2018, she has made it clear she does not support the right to keep and bear arms. When it comes to guns, Haaland has expressed her desire to see most semi-automatic firearms banned under the guise of an “assault weapons” ban, even co-sponsoring legislation that would ban such firearms in 2019. She has also voted for so-called “universal” background check legislation, as well as so-called “Charleston loophole” legislation that would allow unelected government bureaucrats to cause indefinite delays for law-abiding Americans when they attempt to purchase firearms.

Considering the Secretary of the Interior has quite a bit of influence over hunting and recreational shooting policies on federal land, her support for gun bans and other restrictive gun control is clearly problematic. Not only would such measures be unconstitutional infringements on the Second Amendment, but they would negatively impact revenue raised through the Pittman-Robertson Act, which is used to help fund wildlife conservation efforts. Pittman-Robertson raises money through an excise tax on firearms and ammunition, so efforts to diminish what firearms may be sold, or that would discourage people from purchasing firearms, would lead to a decrease in funds available for conservation efforts.

But it gets even worse.

During testimony for her confirmation hearing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) asked Haaland if she would commit to the concept of no-net-loss when it comes to federal land available for hunting – she refused. This concept, which has been codified in numerous states, would simply establish that if a certain area of federal land that had been available for hunting opportunities needs to be closed to public use for hunting, then an equal and comparable area should be opened to compensate for the loss to the hunting public.

Senator Daines also asked Haaland if she supports banning the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on public lands – again she refused to answer. Protecting traditional ammunition was something the previous administration had done not just in word, but in action.

And while the nominee claimed in her testimony that she would “look at the science” before imposing rules or restrictions that may impact hunters on federal lands, her past legislative efforts show she takes emotional, rather than scientific, positions on hunting.

Haaland has a history of co-sponsoring and voting for legislation that would place scientifically unwarranted restrictions on hunting healthy populations of grizzly bears, gray wolves, and countless other wildlife species, including in other countries. She has also called for banning trapping on all public lands, not for scientific conservation reasons, but, as she stated in her testimony, because her “constituents were concerned about that issue….”

Clearly, Representative Haaland’s track record demonstrates that she would not protect the interests of hunters, recreational shooters and sportsmen as Secretary of the Interior – as a result, the NRA opposes her confirmation. Her nomination currently awaits consideration by the full U.S. Senate, but a vote is yet to be scheduled. NRA-ILA will keep you apprised of any developments.

IN THIS ARTICLE
Joe Biden
TRENDING NOW
One Big Beautiful Bill Clears Senate, and Heads Back to House

News  

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

One Big Beautiful Bill Clears Senate, and Heads Back to House

Earlier today the U.S. Senate passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill contained a provision that would, among other things, eliminate the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, and “any ...

U.S. Senate Adds Pro-Gun Tax Relief Language Back into Reconciliation Bill

News  

Saturday, June 28, 2025

U.S. Senate Adds Pro-Gun Tax Relief Language Back into Reconciliation Bill

Overnight, the U.S. Senate added pro-gun tax relief language back into the Reconciliation bill after the Senate Parliamentarian struck out an earlier provision.  While this new provision is not as expansive as the language we advocated for which ...

Congress Passes the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Now Headed to President Trump

News  

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Congress Passes the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Now Headed to President Trump

Earlier today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill contained a provision that would, among other things, eliminate the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, ...

U.S. House Sends Reconciliation Bill to President Trump

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, July 3, 2025

U.S. House Sends Reconciliation Bill to President Trump

NFA Tax on Suppressors, Short-Barreled Firearms, and Other Arms Reduced to $0

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Armed Churchgoers Prevent Mass Attack as State Lawmakers Plot More Gun Control

News  

Monday, June 30, 2025

Armed Churchgoers Prevent Mass Attack as State Lawmakers Plot More Gun Control

Just over an hour away from the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan – even as lawmakers worked feverishly to pass various gun control measures, including expansion of “gun free” zones – a chilling reminder unfolded of the ...

Urge the U.S. Senate to Pass the One Big Beautiful Bill – Contact Your U.S. Senators Today!

News  

Monday, June 30, 2025

Urge the U.S. Senate to Pass the One Big Beautiful Bill – Contact Your U.S. Senators Today!

The U.S. Senate has cleared a number of procedural hurdles and is preparing to vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill. This vote will likely come within the next day. The One Big Beautiful Bill includes ...

Canada’s Big Ugly Gun Grab: An Update

News  

Monday, June 30, 2025

Canada’s Big Ugly Gun Grab: An Update

Canada’s Liberal government is pressing on with its harebrained gun ban and confiscation program for “assault style weapons,” but, true to form and precedents, it has been far from smooth sailing.

U.S. Senate Forced to Remove Pro-Gun Language from Reconciliation Bill

News  

Friday, June 27, 2025

U.S. Senate Forced to Remove Pro-Gun Language from Reconciliation Bill

Today, the U.S. Senate was forced to remove the pro-gun language that had been previously included in the Reconciliation Bill currently making its way through the chamber. We explained in a previous article that this language would, ...

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Recently, House Bill 193 (H193) was reported favorably out of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with amendments.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.