Kaden McArthur, Government Relations Manager at Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), speaks with host Mike Leonard about a recent bill that would undermine the Wildlife Restoration Program, which exists thanks to the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition.

Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) and 53 cosponsors introduced the RETURN our Constitutional Rights Act, which would eliminate the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Hunters and the firearms industry lobbied for the creation of this excise tax, authorized in 1937, making the proposed elimination puzzling. While the proposed legislation offers a replacement for the tax, the replacement would be a cut to recent levels of funding.

All this is to say, don't mess with a good thing - a highly popular user-funded conservation model that hunters and anglers are passionate about. Luckily, McArthur and Leonard don't think this bill will gain much traction.

This bill does not make any changes to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, however, the precedent it sets underscores the importance of organizations, like ASA and BHA, having a presence on Capitol Hill to represent the interests of hunters and anglers.

For more about BHA visit their website and listen to their podcast here.

For ways to get involved in sportfishing policy visit https://keepamericafishing.org/ and https://asafishing.org/

National Fish Habitat Partnership with Ed Schriever

The Politics of Fish By American Sportfishing Association Aug 24, 2022