March 7, 2012

NSSF Urges Support of Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act in Senate

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The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, is encouraging all sportsmen, gun owners and firearms enthusiasts to contact members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today and urge them to support the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (S. 1249 / H.R. 3065). This bi-partisan legislation will give states greater flexibility in using their Pittman-Robertson funds to establish safe recreational shooting areas. More specifically, the legislation will help facilitate the construction and expansion of public target ranges, including ranges on federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

This legislation is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, in the Environment and Public Works subcommittee on Water and Wildlife. Please contact members of the committee today!

Background on S. 1249 / H.R. 3065

This summer Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act (S. 1249). This bi-partisan legislation will give states greater flexibility to use more of their designated federal wildlife resources (i.e. Pittman-Robertson funds) to establish safe recreational shooting areas. The legislation also allows for the proper management of existing shooting areas.

A recent survey by the Responsive Management Company has shown that the biggest obstacle to participation in hunting and the shooting sports is access. In addressing this concern, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act will not only help sportsmen and target shooters, but wildlife and conservation efforts as well. Active participation in hunting and the shooting sports means increased production of firearms and ammunition. Manufacturers of firearms and ammunition pay a federal excise tax — 11 percent on long guns and ammunition and 10 percent on handguns — which is used to fund wildlife and conservation efforts. By giving gun owners better access to ranges, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act will help to encourage participation in these pro-conservation pastimes.

By allowing the states more latitude in determining how excise tax dollars are used to enhance and develop public shooting facilities, wildlife conservation funding will increase. This benefits all sportsmen and is a strong return on investment.

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