Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

August is National Shooting Sports Month! Many Arkansans, including myself, have grown up loving and appreciating shooting sports, one of the most time-honored pastimes in the Natural State. Yet, one year ago, flawed policies from the Biden Administration threatened sportsmen and women’s ability to recreate as they please.

Through wrongful misinterpretation of the language in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 (BSCA), the Biden-Harris Administration threatened to halt funding for archery, hunting, target shooting, and other school outdoor classes and programs.

Shooting sports activities provide young people with the unique opportunity to learn responsibility, be a part of a team, improve mental health, develop a passion for a sport, and understand the safe and legal handling of shooting sports equipment. I couldn’t sit idle while poor interpretation of policies threatened those positive benefits for American students.

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I worked with fellow sportsmen in Congress to advance the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, which recognizes the value of shooting sports and outdoor recreation and ensures these programs are never put on the back burner. Fortunately, the House quickly took up this legislation for a vote, and it passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 424-1. The Senate followed suit, passing by Unanimous Consent, prompting the President to sign it into law shortly thereafter.

This National Shooting Sports Month, I’m celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act and the ability for Arkansans to safely enjoy shooting sports with generations to come!