Buckeye Reporter

In a demonstration that America’s outdoors and recreational shooting sports pastimes still bring people together, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 615 in a bipartisan vote, sending the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act over to the U.S. Senate for consideration. The bill is strongly supported by NSSF and would require the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to provide site-specific peer-reviewed scientific data that demonstrates traditional lead ammunition or fishing tackle is causing detrimental wildlife population impacts before prohibiting their use on federal lands.

"Thankfully, cooler and more knowledgeable heads prevailed and the bill, sponsored by outdoor advocate and House Natural Resources Committee member Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), is moving on."

"There’s hardly a gun control restriction that wouldn’t garner AOC’s support, and a ban on traditional lead ammunition is just that — an anti-hunting, anti-gun restriction that would have dramatic negative impacts on wildlife conservation efforts."

"The Congresswoman pleaded with committee members."

"The problem with AOC’s argument is that her so-called “facts” come from gun control activists and anti-hunting apostles set on eliminating hunting and restricting gun use, data, and science be damned. Her two-pronged assessment is wrong on both accounts."

"Numerous studies have shown that requiring the use of alternative ammunition would put a significant cost barrier to participation in hunting and fishing on public lands. Alternative ammunition is, on average, 25% more expensive than traditional ammunition and less available to find on retail counters."

"And that’s the goal. Alternative ammunition is so fervently pushed by Ocasio-Cortez and her anti-hunting, anti-gun allies because they know it would lead to dramatically fewer hunters. That’s their endgame."

"The Congresswoman’s “poison everything in sight” remark is false as well."

"If Ocasio-Cortez still can’t be bothered to study the science, maybe she can look on the opposite side of the country in California — politically much more aligned with her progressive views — and see what has happened there."

"Despite what Ocasio-Cortez spouts, the science is crystal clear: American wildlife populations are healthy and American hunters — using traditional ammunition — have played the most significant role in that development."

"Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t the only one to appear before a congressional committee to address the Biden administration’s push for traditional ammunition bans, including the most recent “bait-and-switch” ploy announced by USFWS."

"The secretary waffled and recited the same talking points, stating that “the best available data” shows that lead has had “negative impacts” on wildlife and human health. Rep. Wittman was having none of it and criticized her speaking in generalities."

"Ocasio-Cortez, Secretary Haaland, and others who continue to push out America’s hunters on public lands had better be careful — they could get what they wish for."

"The firearms and ammunition industry, supported by millions of hunters and outdoor recreational shooters, has contributed over $27 billion, when adjusted for inflation, toward wildlife management and conservation projects back in the states. No other group is more responsible for the resounding comeback and thriving populations for America’s wildlife populations — including bald eagles, California condors, and more."

"Pushing to eliminate hunting and fishing on public lands — activities that are enjoyed by Americans who own the public lands — is anti-science, anti-hunting, and anti-outdoors."