Recreational Land Self-Defense Act of 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 21, 2011

Recreational Land Self-Defense Act of 2011 - Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm at a water resources development project administered by the Chief of Engineers if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Webb, Jim [D-VA] · D–VA

Committees

Environment and Public Works Committee

12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Sep 21, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sep 21, 2011
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Sep 21, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1865 · Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act of 2011

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1588 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1588, 112th Congress: Recreational Land Self-Defense Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1588

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1588/BILLS-112s1588is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:16:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1588 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1588 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1588, 112th Congress: Recreational Land Self-Defense Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1588

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1588/BILLS-112s1588is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:16:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1588 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1588 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1588, 112th Congress: Recreational Land Self-Defense Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1588

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1588/BILLS-112s1588is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:16:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1588 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1588 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1588, 112th Congress: Recreational Land Self-Defense Act of 2011

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1588

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-09-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1588/BILLS-112s1588is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:16:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1588 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.