NSSF: The Firearm Industry Trade Association
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to post the latest of our occasional Q&A features with an elected official who supports hunting and the shooting sports. NSSF thanks U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) for agreeing to talk with us. Rep. Fischbach is serving in her second term representing Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District. Congresswoman Fischbach serves in the U.S. House of Representatives on several House Committees; including on the Rules, Budget, Ethics and Ways and Means committees.
1) Describe the importance of hunting and the recreational shooting sports to your Congressional District.
Hunting and sports shooting is a way of life across Minnesota. It’s woven into the cultural and historical fabric of Minnesota. It’s a way to enjoy the great outdoors which is important for every Minnesotan no matter how cold it gets. With over 110 game species and millions of acres of hunting land, hunting, in particular, has been a traditional activity in Minnesota for generations. Hunting and sports shooting not only contribute to the state’s economy, they also help regulate wildlife populations and alleviate wildlife damage on agricultural production land.
2) Which piece of legislation related to the conservation, hunting, and the firearm industry is particularly important to you and why?
Hunting and sports shooting are a tradition to many Minnesotans, and I fully support educational initiatives that involve archery, hunting, various shooting sports, and programs of the like. Unfortunately, Biden’s Department of Education distorted the interpretation of a provision in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, interpreting it to mean they could withhold federal funding from schools that teach firearm safety or support a school trap team. In response, I voted and fully supported the passing and enactment of H.R.5110, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act. This critical piece of legislation amended the Bipartisan Safer Communications Act to clarify the provision. This bill provides resources and support for students to develop skills, learn about firearm safety, and participate in activities that promote and preserve the tradition and way of life for hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts.
3) What do you see as the challenges and opportunities for hunter and shooting sports enthusiasts?
My colleagues on the other side of the aisle and the Biden Administration continue to push gun control policies that impede on the rights of law-abiding citizens. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has been weaponized through rule changes on stabilizing braces, so-called “ghost-guns,” and redefining what it means to be “in the business of selling firearms.” As a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, I have responded to these attacks by supporting legislation that protects the right to bear arms and enhances liberties. I have also sent a letter to my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee asking them to withhold ATF funding that allows them to carry out their gun control initiatives. The Constitution is clear: our right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
