September 20, 2017 — Sportsmen are the heart and soul of conservation policy in the United States. In the spirit of the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, our nation values the “wise use of the Earth and its resources for the lasting good of men” through responsible resource management, conservation and recreation.
However, to ensure conservation and economic growth can be created by our federal lands, it is important to have access to outdoor activities on America’s public lands, and to have secure Second and Tenth Amendment rights. That is why Congress should pass the “Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act.” Many of our nation’s sportsmen enjoy access to our public lands, which also makes possible many jobs in the outdoor recreation industry sector. Maintaining access and increasing opportunities on our public lands will help ensure our natural resources are conserved in perpetuity, and helps sustain good, family supporting jobs for millions of Americans.
American sportsmen annually fund our nation’s legacy of conservation through a “user-pays, public-benefits” system, which provides millions of dollars toward the preservation of our lands and natural resources. In 2015, hunting and recreational shooting activities alone generated $823 million to support the conservation and rehabilitation of public land, and provide more than 80 percent of the annual funding for state fish and game agencies. America needs more hunters and recreational shooters to ensure the sustainability of this system.