Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Zinke Nomination for Interior Secretary Moves to Full Senate

Friday, February 3, 2017

Zinke Nomination for Interior Secretary Moves to Full Senate

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), by a 16-6 vote. Zinke’s nomination now moves to the full Senate, where a confirmation vote will likely take place in the coming weeks.

Zinke, a first-term congressman, is a Navy Seal veteran and former Montana state senator. Zinke is also an avid sportsman, a trait the nominee has made clear will inform his stewardship of the nation’s public lands. During his confirmation hearing on January 17, Zinke shared some of the origins of his respect for the nation’s public lands, noting,

Today those lands provide American's the opportunity to hike, fish, camp, recreate, and enjoy the great outdoors. It was on these lands that my father [taught me] to hunt and fish and the boy scouts taught me the principles and environmental stewardship and the importance of public access.

Later in the hearing, Zinke explained the importance of using the nation’s public lands for multiple purposes, including hunting, and the important role access to public lands plays in ensuring that hunting remains a sport open to all Americans. The Congressman explained,

What I have seen most recently is our access is being shut off, roads are being shut off, and we're all getting older. And when you don't have access to hunting areas, traditional fishing areas, it makes it an elite sport. And I'm particularly concerned about the elitism of our traditional hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. Making our public lands accessible in the spirit of multiple use.

Later on, Zinke again remarked on the importance of access to public lands for hunting, stating, 

I'm concerned that not only our generation, but our next generation who continuously sees closed roads, fences and lack of access.

Zinke’s vocal support for hunters and shooters has been backed up with action. In February 2016, Zinke voted for the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act, which would have created more opportunities for hunting and shooting on Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands. Fighting for his Montana constituents, in September 2016, Zinke called on the Forest Service to lift a recreational shooting ban in Custer Gallatin National Forest.

Zinke understands the vital role that public lands play in ensuring that the shooting sports are open to all Americans, and as Secretary of the Interior will be in a position to promote our hunting and shooting heritage. That is why NRA members must take action to secure Zinke’s confirmation.

Please contact your U.S. Senators NOW at (202) 224-3121, or by email using our Take Action tool. Ask your U.S. Senators to support Ryan Zinke for Secretary of the Interior!

TRENDING NOW
Federal Legislation Introduced to Ban “Gas Operated Semiautomatic” Firearms

Friday, December 1, 2023

Federal Legislation Introduced to Ban “Gas Operated Semiautomatic” Firearms

Joe Biden has long insisted he would ban what he calls “assault weapons” and has enlisted a motley succession of extreme anti-gun legislators to aid in that effort. Now, Senators Angus King (IND-ME) and Martin ...

Following Terrorist Attack, Israel Relaxes Gun Laws and Arms Civilians

News  

Monday, October 16, 2023

Following Terrorist Attack, Israel Relaxes Gun Laws and Arms Civilians

Following an unprecedented terrorist attack on civilians that indiscriminately targeted even the elderly, women, and children, Israel has loosened its gun laws and is distributing firearms to civilians. As of press time, the number of victims killed in ...

Virginia: Omnibus Gun Control Bills Filed Ahead of the 2024 Legislative Session

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Virginia: Omnibus Gun Control Bills Filed Ahead of the 2024 Legislative Session

In Virginia, the pre-filing of legislation has begun for the 2024 session and anti-gun legislators are wasting no time in aggressively laying out their agenda. 

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License Requirement in NRA-Backed Case.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License Requirement in NRA-Backed Case.

On Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals ruled that Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License (“HQL”) requirement is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. 

Federal Judge in Colorado Insists There is No Second Amendment Right to Buy a Gun

News  

Monday, November 20, 2023

Federal Judge in Colorado Insists There is No Second Amendment Right to Buy a Gun

Honest people can disagree with the Founders’ decision to enshrine the Second Amendment within the Bill of Rights. They cannot, however, pretend that decision never happened. For much of the 20th Century, however, gun control activists ...

Canadians on Canada’s Gun Control Measures: Expensive, Ineffective, Political Posturing

News  

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Canadians on Canada’s Gun Control Measures: Expensive, Ineffective, Political Posturing

More than three years have passed since Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban and mandatory confiscation (“buyback”) of what he called “military grade assault weapons,” which was followed by a national handgun “freeze” ...

Seventh Circuit Strains to Uphold Illinois’ Gun and Magazine Ban

News  

Monday, November 13, 2023

Seventh Circuit Strains to Uphold Illinois’ Gun and Magazine Ban

At this point, gun owners and other productive Americans don’t anticipate much good news out of Chicago. On November 3, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit lived up to those expectations when it upheld Illinois’ ...

Kentucky: Senator Westerfield Expected to Introduce Red Flag Legislation for a Hearing this Month

Friday, December 1, 2023

Kentucky: Senator Westerfield Expected to Introduce Red Flag Legislation for a Hearing this Month

The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary is expected to hear legislation on "Red Flag" laws later this month as a result of legislation to be filed by Senator Whitney Westerfield (R-3). While an official agenda ...

SCOTUS Bruen Decision (Unsurprisingly) Popular with American People

News  

Monday, November 20, 2023

SCOTUS Bruen Decision (Unsurprisingly) Popular with American People

When the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) released its decision last year in the landmark New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen case, anti-gun extremist organizations had a collective conniption ...

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

News  

Monday, January 30, 2023

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

On Monday, January 30, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) published the final Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” rule for public inspection in the federal register.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.