On April 14th, U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Representatives Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), Mike Ross (D-Ark.), Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), introduced legislation to protect traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle from a potential ban by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
S. 838 and H.R. 1558 would protect the rights of sportsmen to use traditional ammunition by clarifying that the components used in manufacturing shells, cartridges, and fishing tackle are exempt from EPA regulation under the Toxic Substance Control Act.
Radical environmental groups have attempted to persuade the EPA to ban the use of traditional lead ammunition. Last year, the Centers for Biological Diversity led a coalition to petition the EPA to institute a ban. The EPA denied the petition in November of last year, but these groups have now turned to the courts to force the EPA to act.
S. 838/H.R. 1558 amends the Toxic Substance Control Act by adding language specifically listing ammunition components such as shot, bullets, primers and propellants to the items that are exempt from regulation under TSCA.
There is no sound scientific evidence that the use of lead bullets by hunters poses any measurable threat to the environment. However, a ban on traditional ammunition would have an adverse impact on hunters, conservation programs and would have a negative economic impact on many areas of the country that benefit from sportsmen’s dollars.
Passage of S. 838/H.R. 1558 will ensure that hunters and shooters will have the right to choose the best ammunition to use and will protect our hunting heritage from this baseless attack.
Please contact your Senators and Representative and thank them if they are already cosponsors of S. 838/H.R. 1558. If they are not yet cosponsors, respectfully urge them to become cosponsors of these important bills to protect our American hunting heritage.
Click here to see if your Representative is a cosponsor of H.R. 1558.
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