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February 18, 2025
NSSF Government Relations Team Profile: Sean Smith
NSSF’s Government Relations Team is working hard on behalf of the entire firearm and ammunition industry, both at the federal level and at state capitals across the country. To give our members a better understanding of who is fighting for their businesses and Second Amendment rights every day, NSSF will periodically publish a Government Relations Team member profile. February’s NSSF GR Team profile is for Sean Smith, NSSF Manager for Government Relations – Federal Affairs.
1) What is your favorite hunting or recreational shooting sports activity?
Believe it or not before joining NSSF, I had never shot sporting clays, only stationary targets. Now I can’t get enough of it. Living so close to Washington, D.C., you wouldn’t think there would be a couple of great clay ranges within reasonable driving distance, but there are. When the weather permits it, I’m out there practicing for our fundraising shoots and bringing friends along with me who have never been introduced to the shooting sports.
2) How did you become interested in professionally advocating for pro-firearm industry policies and Second Amendment rights?
Growing up I always had respect for, and interest in, the Second Amendment, which was instilled in me by my parents. I have also spent a considerable amount of time hunting and shooting with my grandfather in Wyoming, which has only grown my passion for hunting and shooting sports. Before coming to NSSF in 2022, I was fortunate enough to work on Capitol Hill in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, where I found that I wanted to do more in the Second Amendment and hunting and conservation space. Luckily, NSSF was looking for a new member for their Government Relations team; I applied, and the rest is history.
3) Describe your role within NSSF to the firearm industry community.
As Manager of Government Relations – Federal Affairs, I work with a great team in our nation’s capital where we inform members of Congress and their staff about the challenges the industry is facing, and work with them to utilize the legislative process to protect and preserve the Second Amendment and the industry as a whole. The NSSF Government Relations team assists Congressional staff in many ways, including helping craft and build support for NSSF-supported legislation, providing relevant materials for House and Senate committee hearings, and keeping staff up to date on important industry related matters.
4) What is your favorite aspect of your role with NSSF while interacting with industry partners?
I always enjoy meeting new people in the industry, and I’ve found the best way to do so is during our annual Fly-In meeting and SHOT Show®. At our Fly-In, the NSSF team is grouped with five or six industry members where we spend a couple days together and meet with members of Congress and their staff. Teaming up with multiple industry members really gives me a chance to learn about the issues each company is facing and helps me better represent the industry when working with members on Capitol Hill. SHOT Show is always a great way to connect with industry members I haven’t met before and learn about their new products and the challenges they’re facing as well.
5) Describe your favorite “win” from your role/advocacy on behalf of the firearm industry.
I have a couple of “wins” that I can think of during my time at NSSF. The first “win” that comes to mind is the House passage of the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (H.R. 615) in the 118th Congress, which would require the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to provide site-specific, peer-reviewed, scientific data demonstrating that traditional lead ammunition or fishing tackle is leading to an increased population decline, before prohibiting their use by hunters and anglers. This legislation was introduced in response to a final rule, put out by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that opened up hunting and fishing opportunities on 18 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) while phasing out or outright banning the use of traditional ammunition or tackle. Even though it only passed in the House, and wasn’t brought to the Senate floor, I consider this a win and hope to see it move further in the 119th Congress. The second “win” is the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act (H.R. 6492) being signed into law at the end of last year. The EXPLORE Act included the Range Access Act (H.R. 1614) which requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to work with local stakeholders to build recreational shooting ranges in each BLM district and National Forest if a range does not already exist in the area. With this provision, the EXPLORE Act is providing gun owners a safe place to sight-in rifles before hunting season, take firearm safety and hunter education courses and for recreational shooters to practice their marksmanship, especially in rural areas.
6) What’s a favorite hobby or recreational activity outside of hunting or shooting sports?
Outside of hunting and shooting I like to spend my time fishing, fly fishing specifically. Every August I visit my grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins in Wyoming where my grandfather takes me up on the Big Horn mountains to fly fish for brook trout; it’s one of my favorite things to do while I’m out there. If I’m not fly fishing in Wyoming, I’m fishing for largemouth bass in northern Virginia with some of my long-time friends. To me, there is nothing better than feeling a big fish on the end of your line. Outside of fishing, I enjoy playing a round of golf with friends and family, if I’m up to the challenge.
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