This Friday, February 26, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, or SHARE Act (H.R. 2406).
CALL TO ACTION: Contact your U.S. Representative and ask them to support the SHARE Act and vote ‘yes’ on the floor this week.
The SHARE Act, which is supported by more than 50 of the nation’s leading conservation groups representing millions of sportsmen and women across the country, includes several key provisions benefiting hunting and angling traditions. H.R. 2406:
• Prevents the EPA from unnecessarily regulating traditional ammunition and fishing tackle.
• Allows state fish and wildlife agencies added flexibility needed to construct public shooting ranges.
• Protects the rights of lawful citizens to possess firearms on lands and waters managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is consistent with these rights on other federal public lands.
• Permanently establishes the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council to advise federal land management agencies on issues of importance to sportsmen and women, as well as wildlife.
• Protects sportsmen’s access by requiring the BLM and U.S. Forest Service to keep lands open for hunting, fishing and recreational shooting unless there is a specific reason to close them.
• Reauthorizes the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, allowing the government to use the proceeds generated from selling unwanted land for high-value land acquisitions.
• Requires the National Park Service or Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to consult with state fish and wildlife agencies prior to closing areas to fishing.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
