Hunting, Nature Conservation, and Dead Polar Bears, Oh My! (S. 405)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is S. 405?
(Updated May 22, 2017)
This bill focuses on securing the use of public land for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Namely, it compiles a wide swath of measures to ensure that these groups can still have access to the natural spaces they care about, while conserving those areas, and "boosting the outdoor recreation economy."
Some of the highlights that can be found between the 14 different pieces of legislation bundled in here are:
- The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act — Securing Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands for people who want to use them for hunting, fishing, and shooting.
- Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act – Removes ammunition and fishing tackle that have lead in them from the Toxic Substances Control Act — leaving decisions about lead equipment up to state fish and game agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
- Bows Transported through National Parks – Keeping the National Park Service from stopping the lawful transportation of bows and crossbows through national parks — when they are being transported legally in a vehicle;
Argument in favor
Hunters and trappers are knowledgeable and trustworthy stewards of the land. This bill will not only make more money available for conservation efforts but also protects the rights of law abiding citizens who have the right to use public lands year round for outdoor recreation.
Argument opposed
This bill is a Cabela’s ad, underwritten by the NRA, and presented as legislation. Giving hunters and trappers year-round access to national parks and other public lands will result in increased injuries and degrade the natural environment. Not to mention the polar bear "trophies" and toxic lead ammo/bait.
Impact
People who enjoy outdoor recreation, specifically hunters and others who are handy with a firearm, public lands and resources, and the federal agencies that manage them.
Cost of S. 405
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
"Hunting and other outdoor sports continue to grow in popularity across America, as people seek the simple pleasure of being outdoors with friends and family. The Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 is a compilation of various legislative efforts that seek to increase opportunities for hunters, shooters and anglers by reducing regulations that prevent Americans from enjoying our outdoor heritage."
"Traditional fair chase hunting is not under threat – it’s widely practiced and permitted in every state in the Union and already allowed on almost every inch of our national forests, Bureau of Land Management holdings, and even the vast majority of National Wildlife Refuges, not to mention all the state and private lands. This bill is really about the NRA’s extremist agenda: legalizing the import of threatened species shot abroad, stopping any regulation of toxic ammunition, and creating a presumption that federal lands specifically designated as wilderness areas must be open to trophy hunting and commercial trapping regardless of the impacts on the environment, wildlife, or other land users."
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