WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis (both R-WY) cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science and state wildlife and fish agencies. Currently, there is no clear scientific evidence that such a ban would have any environmental impact.
“The Biden administration is once again attacking our Wyoming way of life,” said Senator Barrasso. “Now they want to bring back an Obama-era ban on traditional bait and tackle and ammunition Americans use every day on our public lands. Hunting and fishing are not only popular activities many enjoy in Wyoming, they are a vital piece of our economy as well. Senator Lummis and I will continue to fight to stop this overreaching rule in its tracks.”
“Attempts to ban traditional lead ammo and tackle are activist driven nonsense with no scientific basis,” said Senator Lummis. “Hunters and anglers have been feeding their families off the land since before Wyoming was a state and they do not need activists who have never baited a hook or fired a gun telling them how to do it. Hunting and fishing play a critical role in conservation and a sweeping ban would have serious unintended consequences.”
Read the full bill text here.
Background:
- Approximately 80% of the fishing weights and tackle sold are lead sinkers weighing a half ounce, or less.
- 95% of ammunition manufactured contains lead according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
- A study jointly conducted by the North Dakota Health Department and CDC found the impact on humans who eat game meat hunted with lead bullets to be statistically insignificant.
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