A radicalized Environmental Protection Agency would be barred from its attempted takeover of the regulation of ammunition and fishing tackle by the passage of H.R. 4089, the Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012, which has now been approved in the House of Representatives with the support of Republican Conference Secretary John Carter (TX31). The legislation passed by a 274-146 margin and now advances to the Senate. It is supported by the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, Safari Club International, and dozens more* conservation and outdoor sports organizations.
"This bill protects the rights of hunters and anglers from an over-reaching federal bureaucracy," says Carter, a long-time member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. "There has never been an agency in U.S. history that has tried to unilaterally assume jurisdiction over every other legally-appointed agency, and this will bring that to a halt at least for ammunition and tackle."
In addition to preventing the EPA from regulating lead component ammunition and fishing tackle, the Sportsmen's Heritage Act recognizes hunting, shooting and fishing as authorized activities on all Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands; allows the importation of polar bear trophies that were harvested before the species was listed under the Endangered Species Act; allows sport shooting on National Monument lands; and clarifies use of off-road vehicles on federal lands.