NSSF Hails Introduction of Land and Water Access Legislation by Senator Harry Reid

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today announced the introduction of important legislation targeted at expanding and enhancing access to public lands for hunting, fishing and recreational shooting. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, strongly supports the bill and applauds Senator Reid for his leadership in introducing it.

Included in broader legislation to permanently authorize and fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the legislation directs that not less than 1.5 percent of annual authorized LWCF funding be made available to secure access to public land for hunting, shooting and fishing through easements, rights-of-way or fee title acquisitions from willing sellers.

Working in concert with a broad cross-section of sportsmen's organizations, members of Congress and others, NSSF has been a strong proponent of this important legislative provision, which will provide access to hundreds of thousands of acres annually for hunting and recreational shooting.

"A primary goal of the National Shooting Sports Foundation is to support the development and enactment of federal policies that serve to create opportunities for people of all ages to hunt and shoot. Today, Senator Reid took an important step toward realizing this shared goal," said NSSF President Steve Sanetti.

Sanetti also called upon Congress to ensure final enactment of the bill, stating "The NSSF looks forward to working in partnership with our fellow hunters and shooters in Congress to secure final passage of this important legislation during the 111th Congress."

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About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 5,500 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.