October 3, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC — NSSF®, the Firearms Industry Trade Association, strongly opposes the Department of the Interior’s plan proposed by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to cut off access to recreational shooting on 1.3 million acres of Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument. Masu. Today’s announcement unnecessarily denies recreational shooters access to the monument without a legally valid purpose and violates federal law.
“Secretary Haaland’s proposed plan to close access to 1.3 million acres for recreational shooting violates federal law,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “Public lands must be available to all members of the public. Federal law is clear that when closures of public lands are necessary, they must be limited in area and duration to accomplish a specific purpose.” Secretary Haaland has not clarified any of the necessary standards required by the law, and the Secretary should reverse or significantly modify this misguided policy to make it as intended in the public interest. should be applied.”
The John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, signed into law in 2019, establishes criteria under which the Secretary of the Interior can close public access to public lands. The law limits the areas and periods during which public access to federal lands may be closed. Closure can only occur when clear and quantifiable goals are identified. Secretary Haaland’s announcement to close 1.3 million acres of Bears Ears National Monument does not meet these requirements.
The Dingell Act provides that federal lands remain open for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, subject to applicable law. unless the Secretary determines that a particular area must be closed for one or more special reasons, such as public safety, public administration, or compliance with applicable law. If so, the Secretary must limit the closure to the minimum area and shortest time necessary to accomplish the stated purpose.
None of these criteria were met until Secretary Haaland announced that because the land is public land, it would deny public access to the countless recreational shooters who own the land. This announcement denies access to conservation funds in a way that is harmful. Most horrifyingly, this punitive political action is being taken despite the fact that there is no indication that the recreational shooter poses any real threat to the monument’s cultural, historical, or natural resources. That’s what I’m doing.
“The NSSF is deeply troubled by this blatant violation of the law by cutting off access to 1.3 million acres of public land,” Bartozzi added. “This unlawful shutdown shows that the Biden-Harris administration and Secretary Haaland are openly hostile to the interests of American athletes and women. This action reveals a complete disregard for the rule of law. NSSF will protest this proposal and work with the Bureau of Land Management to ensure recreational shooters continue to have the opportunity to shoot at the monument.”
NSSF encourages all Americans who enjoy access to public lands to comment on this proposal and make their voices heard.
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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Founded in 1961, NSSF’s membership includes thousands of manufacturers, dealers, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, athlete organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, please visit nssf.org.
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Media contact:
mark oliva
202-220-1340
Tags: Bears Ears National Monument Deb Haaland
Categories: BP Items, Featured, Government Relations, Press Releases, Top Stories
