Firearms Industry Praises Bipartisan Introduction of 2013 Sportsmen's Act in U.S. House

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, today praised the bipartisan House leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) for introducing the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2013.

CSC Co-Chairs, U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), joined by Vice-Chairs, U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.), introduced the SHARE Act as a package of pro-sportsmen's legislation designed to safeguard and promote America's hunting and fishing traditions and that is expected to garner wide support from both sides of the political aisle.

"America's hunters were instrumental in the founding and have remained at the forefront of conservation movement in our great country for well over a century," said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. "The SHARE Act features several pro-sportsmen's bills that will help ensure our outdoor traditions are preserved, protected and promoted. The legislation addresses some of the most pressing concerns of American hunters and recreational shooters. Passage of the SHARE Act would be a significant accomplishment for the sportsmen's community and for America. We salute Congressmen Latta, Thompson, Wittman and Walz for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to America's sportsmen."

Priorities addressed in the SHARE Act include: protecting the traditional use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle by American hunters and anglers, the potential increase of more Pittman-Robertson funds for shooting ranges, the permanent authorization of the electronic duck stamp, and helping facilitate the use of and access to Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands and waters for hunting, recreational fishing and shooting. It also prohibits the enforcement of individual firearm regulations at water resources development projects administered by the Corps of Engineers, and prohibits additional fees for commercial filming on federal lands and waterways.

In addition, this legislation will also permanently establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting and recreational shooting.