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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
September 10, 2024<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Washington, D.C. \u2013 Last week,\u00a0Gun Owners of America<\/a>\u00a0(GOA<\/span>) filed public comment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in opposition to their proposed rule to ban the use of lead ammunition of certain public lands, starting with this upcoming fall\/winter hunting season. The proposed rule, which was first announced in early August, is the fourth attempt by anti-gun and anti-hunting activists in the Obama-Biden-Harris administrations to ban lead ammo on public lands in the last nine years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While the Obama-Biden attempt to ban lead ammo and lead based fishing tackle was reversed by President Trump, the Harris-Biden Administration has now initiated its third lead ammo ban, prompting sportsmen to voice serious concerns with their lawmakers in Washington.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In its comments,\u00a0GOA<\/span>\u00a0argues that USFWS has no statutory mandate to effect such a ban, and they highlight the complete lack of any compelling and statistically significant evidence that suggests the presence of lead ammo is detrimental to wildlife or human populations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n NOTE: these comments do not discuss or extend to the existing ban on lead ammunition for waterfowl hunting, which has been in place for several decades.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Read\u00a0GOA<\/span>\u2019s full public comments\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark Jones,\u00a0GOA<\/span>\u2019s National Director of Hunter Outreach, issued the following statement:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n “As a Certified Wildlife Biologist\u00ae with 32 years of experience in wildlife management, I can say that the claims made by USFWS are not supported by peer-reviewed scientific literature. In turn, it’s obvious that this proposed rule is simply meant to frustrate and further disincentivize hunters and target shooters by making it harder and more expensive to participate in the shooting sports. GOA is proud to oppose this rule and will continue to push back on Capitol Hill should it go through.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Aidan Johnston,\u00a0GOA<\/span>\u2019s Director of Federal Affairs, added:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe Harris-Walz campaign can sell all the camo hats it wants, but that doesn\u2019t change the fact that Kamala Harris has tried to ban lead ammunition and fishing tackle every year for the last three years. A Harris-Walz Administration would mean another four years of rogue federal agencies criminalizing the actions of sportsmen to suppress our nation\u2019s proud traditions of hunting and fishing.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n GOA<\/span>\u00a0spokesmen are available for interviews.\u00a0 Gun Owners of America is\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise.\u00a0GOA<\/span>\u00a0represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit\u00a0GOA<\/span>\u2019s\u00a0Press<\/span>\u00a0Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n