I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.  I am familiar with guns from my career in the Army.  My husband and I have owned firearms for many decades.  I’ve also been an NRA member for many years.

My guiding principle will be to do what is best for the State of Alaska, which tragically is ranked first in the country for gun deaths.  Suicide is the leading cause of gun deaths in Alaska and elsewhere, and we must look at a range of steps to reduce this unacceptable death rate, including better mental health outreach and treatment and improved gun safety training.  

Beyond that we need to consider expanding background checks, including prohibiting individuals who are listed on terrorist watch lists from buying guns.  Also, like the American Medical Association and many other groups, I believe Congress should repeal the prohibition on the Center for Disease Control researching the issue of gun violence in order to examine ways to reduce the high rate of firearm-related deaths and injuries in this country.