RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., introduced two bills aimed at expanding firearm access for tribal citizens and reducing federal regulatory hurdles for tribal law enforcement agencies.

The Tribal Firearm Access Act would update federal law to recognize identification documents issued by tribal governments as valid for purchasing a firearm, treating them the same as federal, state or local IDs. Johnson said the proposal corrects what he called an inconsistency in current regulations.

“The ability for lawful citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights shouldn’t exclude someone for being a tribal member,” Johnson said. “Foreign passports are acceptable forms of identification for firearm purchases, but tribal IDs are not. My Tribal Firearm Access Act would fix that error.”

Mullin said the measure would restore equal treatment for tribal citizens seeking to legally obtain firearms.

“For too long, Tribal members have been prohibited from using their government-issued Tribal identification to lawfully obtain firearms,” he said.

The bill has support from national advocacy groups. John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said it would ensure identification issued by federally recognized tribes can be used to legally transfer and purchase firearms.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation also backed the measure, saying it supports fair and accurate federal background checks.

The Tribal Firearm Access Act is cosponsored by Reps. Tracey Mann, R-Kan., Tom Cole, R-Okla., and Adrian Smith, R-Neb.

The lawmakers also introduced the Tribal Police Department Parity Act, which seeks to remove what they describe as unnecessary barriers imposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Currently, tribal police departments without a cross‑deputization agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs must pay a National Firearms Act transfer tax, cannot engage in interstate transfers and are barred from possessing “post‑1986” machine guns — restrictions that do not apply to state and local police agencies.

Johnson said the legislation is intended to give tribal law enforcement agencies equitable access to duty weapons. “We must do better to support tribal law enforcement,” he said.

The Tribal Police Department Parity Act is cosponsored by Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.

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