January 18, 2019
NSSF Praises U.S. Senate Bipartisan Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act
Legislation Frees Funds for State Range Construction
NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the firearms industry trade association, praised the introduction of S. 94[1], the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act of 2019 in the U.S Senate last week. The bipartisan bill was authored by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).
“This is crucial legislation that would provide state fish and game agencies more flexibility to use Pittman-Robertson excise taxes dollars raised from the sale of firearms and ammunition to enhance existing public shooting ranges and to build new ones to meet the growing need for additional places for target shooters to participate in their sport,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “Public shooting ranges provide hunters a place to sight in rifles and shotguns before hunting seasons, for people to take firearm safety and hunter education courses and, for recreational target shooters to enjoy their sport. NSSF applauds both Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Michael Bennet, as well as the other original co-sponsors, for their leadership and perseverance in this critical need.”
This legislation has been introduced in previous Congressional session, where it received overwhelming bipartisan support, but was never advanced to the president. This measure would give states more flexibility to allow for Pittman-Robertson funds to be used for the development and maintenance of public shooting ranges. Those funds are derived from an excise tax paid by firearms