In 1989, international trade of ivory was outlawed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Until international trade was outlawed, billions of dollars in legally imported ivory would enter the country each year. Further restricting ivory trade within individual states will only serve to limit the ability of…
Knife industry and advocacy groups have successfully worked with the U.S. Congress to amend the Federal Switchblade Act so that one-hand opening and assisted-opening knives with a “bias toward closure,” like those used for hunting, are not classified as switchblades. Passing laws at the state level that are similar to the federal exemption to the…
In recent years many local governments have enacted vague, outdated laws banning the sale, possession, use, and manufacture of certain types of knives. These ordinances include knives that the average person would consider to be common pocket knives. Vague jurisdictional knife definitions can lead to highly subjective law enforcement scenarios. Upon an arrest, the presiding…
The use of lead ammunition and lead tackle in hunting and angling is a contentious issue, with the primary concern being the potential effects on wildlife. However, to this date, there has been no documented evidence that sportsmen’s use of lead has had significant deleterious impacts on wildlife at the population level in the United…
Microstamping technology was developed with the goal of easier ballistics identification and is often suggested as a way to limit the number of unsolved gun crimes. However, studies have shown that this technology is unreliable and can be easily defeated with common household tools. Furthermore, microstamping would likely place an unjust burden on law-abiding gun…
The modern sporting rifle is widely misunderstood throughout the country because they are aesthetically similar to military rifles. However, these rifles do not function the same as military firearms and have distinctly different practical uses and technical specifications. Efforts to ban modern sporting rifles often focus on emotion, cosmetics, and appearances, yet ignore the technological…
While muzzleloading firearms, a historical method of hunting, remain popular in many states, technological advancements in these firearms—such as inline muzzleloaders, pelletized black powder substitutes, the new FireStick platform, and telescopic sights—have led to discrepancies in state regulations. Some states maintain strict definitions, limiting use to traditional technologies like flintlocks, while others permit modern advancements….
National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrates the time-honored traditions of hunting and angling, as well as the immense conservation and economic contributions made over time by the original conservationists – sportsmen and women – who support sound, science-based wildlife management through license sales, excises taxes on outdoor gear, and sustainable-use models. National Hunting and Fishing…
Every federally licensed firearm dealer is required to check the eligibility of a recipient through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) prior to the transfer of a firearm to a non-licensee. This system allows law-abiding firearm owners to quickly complete a purchase or transfer while helping prevent those who are barred from…
As with many Constitutional protections, the court system has created carve-outs and exceptions to the Fourth Amendment, one being the Open Fields Doctrine. This doctrine holds that the expectation of privacy provided by the Fourth Amendment does not extend to “open fields” or other wooded properties, regardless of whether a property is posted with “No…
Predator hunting and hunting tournaments, often referred to as “contests,” are time-honored traditions that have recently been subjected to extensive scrutiny by the anti-sportsmen’s community and misinformed general public. Across the nation, both practices serve legitimate and effective purposes towards fish and wildlife conservation efforts. Hunting tournaments are effective management tools of varmint species, such…
More than half of the states in this nation do not protect the personal information that sportsmen and women are required to provide when purchasing hunting and fishing licenses. Some of these states require the information to be readily accessible to the public, while others mandate individuals to complete a request for public information application…