April 30, 2019

Manchin's Target Practice & Marksmanship Training Bill To Be Signed By The President

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), today applauded the passage of his legislation, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, in the House of Representatives. The legislation, which passed the Senate by voice vote earlier this month, would provide a responsible incentive for creating and maintaining public shooting ranges.

“As an avid sportsman, I know firsthand that our heritage as gun owners is important to who we are as West Virginians and Americans. This bipartisan bill will boost West Virginia’s economy while expanding flexibility for fish and wildlife agencies to create and maintain public shooting ranges, which will allow people a greater ability to enjoy the outdoors,” said Senator Manchin. “People in the Mountain State and across this nation should be able to enjoy hunting and recreational shooting and have the ability to enjoy the outdoors. This bill will increase access to our recreational areas and give West Virginians space to enjoy hunting and recreational shooting. We should protect these traditions that help define who we are, and I’m proud to have co-sponsored this important piece of legislation.”

Opportunities for Americans to safely engage in recreational and competitive shooting have declined on both public and private lands in recent years. In response, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act would encourage states to develop additional shooting ranges by providing more flexibility to state fish and wildlife agencies regarding the use of funding made available through the Pittman-Robertson Act, a federal aid program financed by excise taxes on firearms and ammunition.

Other original co-sponsors of the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act include Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Angus King (I-ME), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). It is endorsed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and the National Rifle Association.

###