Last week, Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced the Range Access Act, which if signed into law, would create more free public shooting ranges across the country.
A key provision in the bill would require the “Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to ensure that each qualifying National Forest and BLM district has at least one designated public recreational shooting range that does not require a user fee.”
“This legislation is an important step in expanding access to recreational shooting practice. Americans from coast to coast love spending time in the outdoors, and expanding our ability to recreate on and enjoy our public lands is one of my core focuses in Congress,” said Congressman Blake Moore in a press release obtained by GunsAmerica.
Congressman Moore believes that expanding access to public shooting ranges will increase the tax revenue generated from the Pittman-Robertson Act, all of which goes toward wildlife conservation efforts.
Passed in 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act places an excise tax on the purchase of ammo, guns, and archery equipment. Funds received are distributed to state wildlife agencies for conservation efforts, hunter education programs, and the operation of archery and shooting ranges.
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“The Range Access Act would establish free shooting ranges for sportsmen to safely participate in target practice while supporting our wildlife conservation and local economies,” Moore added.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry trade association, praised the introduction of the Range Access Act.
“The National Shooting Sports Foundation commends Congressman Blake Moore for introducing this vitally important legislation to increase access for the public to practice marksmanship at safe recreational shooting ranges,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
“This legislation, which would require the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to have at least one qualifying recreational shooting range in each National Forest and BLM district, is crucial to ensuring safe public recreational shooting,” Keane continued. “Congressman Moore’s bill would also benefit conservation by reducing pollution at non-dedicated ranges on federal public lands while also generating additional Pittman-Robertson revenue.”
Currently, the Range Access Act faces an uphill battle given that the Democrats have control in both the House and Senate. However, that may change following the November midterms if there is a “red wave.” Stay tuned for updates.
Lived most of my life in SD and a few times in Co. Been back in SD for 40 years now, and what I have noticed is years ago we could use most any State Owned (We The People) Public Hunting Land for target practice, but that ain’t so today. South Dakota has Two, Yep 2 state-owned areas where I can go target practice, one is 160 miles away, and the other one 350 miles away. I am not kidding South Dakota could have a few hundred target shooting areas and they could limit the target shooting to off-season after hunting, seasons and I would be dancing in the streets, but No, and it appears Our State doesn’t want to use Our Tax Dollars for something that would not cost much. Part of the reason is Slob Shooters, and also very lazy State Employees who don’t want to clean up the land if we leave a mess. Now we pay them to drive by the areas and look around, and then they go back to the office and sit around, so I am thinking South Dakota could give us at least one target shooting area in every county, and yes I have suggested this to them a few times.
Many think our Gov Noem is pro gun, and she did pass an Anyone over 18 can CC Law as long as they have a clean record, but that may not be the best idea and I still pay for my South Dakota CC Permit as it gives me the right to carry in like 20 other states, and the free cc is good only in SD. I have paid to pay for CC in SD for about 40 years, and I will continue to pay. Now I have been waiting for National CC but so far The So Called Parties have not even tried to pass it.
As for The Slob Shooters that leave a mess behind and of course some that are not very safe I say that is sad and bad. But, I can leave with them and I would even pay a small fee to use the areas so The State Of South Dakota would not have to use Our Tax Dollars, which is also sad and bad. God Bless Us All
Using PR funds for their intended purpose, including establishing more public shooting ranges: this is all great, but it’s nothing more than pre-election political theater.
I will not be holding my breath waiting for this to pass either house (or even to get out of committee), much less for Brandon to sign it. And this applies not only to the present makeup of the legislature, to also to any revised GOP controlled bodies that might occur after the upcoming election. Republicans are great at giving vigorous and pious lip service, followed by doing NOTHING (other than kissing Devilcrats’ asses).
Stolen elections have consequences.
With all the new shooters, more is better ! When you get on towards deer season there is definite shortage of public ranges. There should also be more gun safety training available, if not in schools, at the very least through schools. We used to have High School shooting programs. I don’t remember any incidents, accidentally, or otherwise associated with these programs. As a friend once told me, “It’s hard to be a good shoot, when your heads up your ass.” Shooting sports teach discipline, and responsibility two things that are sorely lacking in schools today.
Put free gun ranges in inner city parks first.See how that works. The free range I used to go to in Pa. was unsupervised and unsafe because people w no common sense didnt follow the simple rules that were needed to cease fire to place targets etc. Arguments ensued . Range officers and or State police are needed to screen for law abiding gun owners to set foot at a free range so to avoid chaos and murder
Every politician who promotes gun control is a communist supporter and should not be allowed to live in the USA. if they don’t want Americans to be free they need to move to China, Cuba, Russia etc
Actually what our Good Old USA needs is fewer clowns like you! Narrow Minded it is all about Me folks like you are Our Problem. As for Our So-Called Elected Entitled Elite Politicians, they are self-serving just like you. But there is hope as some of them and us can have an open mind. God Bless Us All
Dave he is absolutely right, we don’t want to a conversation with treasonist crap bags, I think they should GTFO and go start your socialist utopia someplace else.🖕🏻