Great news for sportsmen came down this week as the SHARE Act passed through committee and with strong support is headed for the United States House of Representatives. The Natural Resources Committee passed the SHARE Act through on September 13th and sportsmen across the country are hoping for a smooth push of the act through Congress.
The chairman of the committee, Rob Bishop (R) of Utah, praised the passage of the act by stating, “The SHARE Act removes bureaucratic roadblocks that inhibit Americans’ access to outdoor sporting activities on federal lands and reigns in federal encroachment on Second Amendment rights. Members also adopted significant amendments that improve upon this package, including provisions to address cumbersome permitting processes for guides and outfitters, which will result in more jobs and more Americans recreating outdoors. I look forward to advancing this package through the House and working with our Senate colleagues on a final bill that can be signed into law.”
What Issues and Rights Are Addressed in the SHARE Act?
The passage through the committee was applauded by supporters from both parties and many second amendment rights’ groups including the National Rifle Association. The NRA’s executive director Chris Cox was quoted as saying, “today marks an important step in protecting the Second Amendment freedoms of America’s hunters and sportsmen and strengthening our outdoor heritage. The SHARE Act will cut burdensome red tape that restricts millions of hunters and sportsmen.”
The acronym SHARE stands for the Sportsman Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act. The bill was created to expand access and opportunities for those who hunt, fish, or participate recreational shooting as well as secure protection for the rights of gun owners in general. While there are many issues addressed by the SHARE Act many of the provisions seek to reduce current restrictions on sportsman.
The act calls for preventing limitations on ammunition and fishing tackle in regards to lead content and other chemicals allowing the production materials to be regulated by state laws. Additionally, the bill would open up more than 11.7 Million acres of land to those who concealed carry and allows hunting and fishing access on public land.
If the bill is passed, firearm owners will have protection when crossing state lines with their licensed firearms even in states with policies that prohibit it.
In addition to the ability to travel with concealed carry, the bill was combined with the Hearing Protection Act which would remove the requirement that silencers and suppressor be subject to the National Firearm Act regulations. This which would involve removal of the more than 1.3 million owners already registered from the lists and allow silencers and suppressors to be treated the same a firearms. This would allow silencers to be sold in the same manner firearms would as long as they were sold to those who could legally possess them.
What Would Passage of the SHARE Act Mean for Sportsmen and Gun Enthusiasts?
For sportsman, the passage of the SHARE Act would not only provide them with more places to hunt and fish, but it would also remove some of the other restrictions such as transport and use of ammunition and lures that have hindered them in the past.
For shooters and gun enthusiasts, the act will allow them to transport their legally owned weapon without fear or complications from not knowing the laws of the states they pass through on their travels.
Those who love to shoot but have a difficulty with the level of noise will be able to purchase silencers and suppressors for their weapons to help reduce possible damage to hearing.
Many hope that the SHARE ACT will continue to gain traction and support as it begins its journey through the U.S. Congress. Through acts like this, gun owners remain hopeful that the United States government will continue to show support for a citizen’s constitutional protected second amendment rights.
~ American Gun News
