Washington, DC – Safari Club International (SCI) today commended Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for introducing the Sportsmen’s Act of 2013, the first comprehensive bill to benefit America’s sportsmen and women in the 113th Congress.
SCI encourages Members of the Senate to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill, and urges support of its important provisions. The package combines several individual bills protecting the interests of sportsmen and women nationwide.
“Passage of the Sportsmen’s Package is vital to protecting the rights of sportsmen and women nationwide,” said SCI President Craig Kauffman. “First and foremost, this bill will help secure hunting rights on our public lands for future generations. We encourage the Senate to take action as soon as possible,” he added.
The Sportsmen’s Act of 2013 includes many key legislative priorities for sportsmen, including:
Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act: Protects the public’s right to engage in recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting on federal lands, thus ensuring sound and scientific management and conservation of wildlife and habitat.
Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act: Grants the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue electronic duck stamps. It also outlines electronic duck stamp application requirements.
The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act: Excludes traditional ammunition and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, protecting hunters and anglers from arbitrary bans on conventional hunting and fishing equipment.
Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act: Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm at a water resources development project administered by the Chief of Engineers.
Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act: Allows for the Secretary to authorize permits for importation of legally harvested Polar Bears taken from populations approved for hunting in Canada before the 2008 import ban was enacted by the U.S.
Bows Transported through National Parks: Allows hunting bows to be transported across national park lands. Currently, firearms can be legally transported, but not archery bows.
“We are thankful to have champions of our cause like Senator Murkowski in the United States Senate,” said Melissa Simpson, SCI Director of Government Affairs and Science Based Conservation. “Her leadership will help protect the future of recreational hunting, fishing, and sport shooting in the United States,” Simpson concluded.
