Following continued attacks by anti-hunting groups to ban traditional ammunition (ammunition containing lead-core components) under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) earlier today introduced legislation to clarify the longstanding exemption of ammunition under the act. The bill is being championed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) – the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.
“We applaud and thank Sen. Lincoln for introducing this commonsense measure today,” said NSSF President and CEO Stephen L. Sanetti. “This bill will help to ensure that America’s hunters and shooters can continue to choose for themselves the best ammunition to use.”
Last month, on the heels of a strong grassroots campaign led by NSSF, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition by the anti-hunting Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) to ban the production and distribution of traditional ammunition. The decision to deny the petition was met with strong support from hunting and conservation groups that recognized a ban on traditional ammunition would have a negative impact on wildlife conservation. The federal excise tax that manufacturers pay on the sale of ammunition (11 percent) is a primary source of wildlife conservation funding Last year, firearm and ammunition manufacturers contributed approximately $450 million dollars to wildlife conservation through excise tax payments.
“Wildlife management is the proper jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the 50 state wildlife agencies,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.
NSSF is encouraging all sportsmen, hunters and gun owners to contact their senators and urge them to co-sponsor this commonsense legislation in the United States Senate.
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