Congressman Jason Smith (R-Salem) acted as the lead author of a bipartisan letter yesterday along with over 60 of his colleagues to President Trump urging him to revoke a “midnight rule” from the Obama Administration that would ban lead ammunition and fishing tackle from being used on any public lands.
On Jan. 19, the last full day of the Obama Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a director’s order phasing out the use of traditional lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands.
Upon sending the letter, Smith commented, “This last minute rule issued by the Obama White House is simply unacceptable. This is exactly the type of regulatory red tape which has been thrown up by unelected bureaucrats over the last eight years and what the American people soundly rejected last November.”
Smith continued, “Rules like this are made simply to appease radical environmental groups while slamming a recreational pastime enjoyed by generations of hunters and fisherman across south central and southeast Missouri. Public lands are exactly that, for the public, but as we have come to know all too well in our area – the federal government’s end goal with these areas has been unfortunately akin to hanging a “KEEP OUT” sign. Sportsmen and fishermen are some of our country’s most dedicated conservationists. With this new Administration, we must take advantage of every opportunity possible to secure the traditional right of access to public land for not just these individuals but for every American.”
The FWS issued the directive without notice and without giving stakeholders any time to comment. Smith’s effort was applauded by the National Shooting Sports Foundations.
On the Smith led letter, Lawrence Keane, National Shooting Sports Foundations senior vice president said, “The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, applauds the leadership of Congressman Jason Smith and a bipartisan group of 60 other members of Congress in urging President Trump and his Administration to overturn the order by the Obama Administration’s director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service banning the use of traditional ammunition for hunting. The last minute timing of the order with no prior notice to industry, state agencies or sportsmen and conservation groups tells you everything you need to know about the political, anti-hunting motive for the order."
Smith is an avid hunter and a member of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, and has been a leader on preserving Second Amendment rights for all Americans.
