A comprehensive version of the SHARE act is to be discussed in the House Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday, June 14. It includes the Hearing Protection Act and numerous other firearm law reforms.
Versions of the Sportsman's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act has been about to be passed for years. It was introduced in 2012. It has received majority support from both parties. Similar legislation came very close to passage in 2016, passing in the Senate and the House, before being derailed in the conference committee. It is the brainchild of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). It is an omnibus hunting and gun law reform bill that should have passed years ago. It has not passed because of one reason. The Barack Obama administration did not support it.
The pressure for reforms has been building. There is a Second Amendment supporting administration in power. The comprehensive reforms have been strengthened. In consultation with the BATFE, the Hearing Protection Act was added to the bill.
The Hearing Protection Act wasn't the only reform added. SHARE also reforms much of 18 U.S.C., removing the restrictive phrase "sporting purposes" from numerous paragraphs. Many other reforms have been generally supported over the years, but not enacted. Here is a summation. The SHARE Act:
Makes clear the EPA has no authority to regulate lead ammunition or fishing tackle.
Allows Pittman-Robertson funds (taxes on sporting guns and ammunition) to be used for the development of public shooting ranges on public lands.
Forbids the Corps of Engineers from prohibiting the carry of firearms on Corps of Engineers managed land. State law would apply. Similar to the carry in Parks reform signed by President Obama.
Opens up many federal lands now closed to hunting and fishing, including many recently closed monuments.
Clarifies the federal definition of "baiting" migratory birds, to prevent prosecution of innocent farmers and ranchers.
Insures that bows and crossbows can be transported across federal land where they are banned, to areas where they may be legally used.
Requires cooperation with state fish and wildlife agencies in managing fishing in coastal and Great Lakes waters.
Requires creation of an online database showing the awards of all court settlements, and the basis of those awards, to improve transparency, and prevent favoritism of activist groups.
Prevents prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in "good Samaritan" search and recovery missions on federal land.
Allows for lawsuits and recovery of fees against any other person, including individual officials and state and local governments that deprive a person of their legal right to transport firearms and ammunition from one place where they may legally possess them to another place where they may legally possess them.
Requires withdrawal of a restrictive rule on hunting and trapping in Alaska, returning the authority to the State of Alaska.
Allows importation of polar bear trophies legally taken in Canada.
Removes wolf management from judicial review in Wyoming and the western Great Lakes, returning it to state wildlife agencies. A federal judge has stopped management of wolves in both areas.
©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
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