mightymouse
07-15-2008, 07:37
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9821751
You'll pardon target shooters for feeling like the redheaded stepchildren in Colorado's outdoor family. But if legislation proposed by Rep. Mark Udall comes to fruition, they soon might strut like princes.
Udall, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, plans this week to introduce an amendment to the Pittman-Robertson Act that would make almost four times as much money available each year for the development and maintenance of shooting ranges around the state.
The move comes at a time when shooting opportunity is shrinking rapidly under the force of urban development and actions by public land use agencies to eliminate dangerous and unmanageable sites. By best estimates, 40 ranges have been closed around the state in recent years.
The Udall legislation, termed the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, would allow states to use up to 10 percent of P-R funds for shooting sports opportunity and education. Colorado's 2008 P-R allotment is $6.485 million, which theoretically would make $648,000 available for shooting under the Udall proposal.
"We're not dictating to states how they'd use the money, just giving them more options how it be utilized," Udall said Sunday while visiting an informal shooting range on U.S. Forest Service land near Buffalo Creek.
Tom Remington, director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, said he welcomed the added flexibility the bill might bring. But he pointed out that P-R money diverted to shooting sports would come at the expense of existing programs.
Udall's action comes in the wake of a July 2007 memorandum of understanding (MOU) whereby DOW joined with 20 state and federal agencies and outdoor groups to establish multiple ranges at sites from Fort Collins to Pueblo. Trouble is, no money was provided for the initiative. At least not until now.
In addition to its participation in the 2007 MOU, DOW continues to pursue land and funding for a major shooting range in close proximity to the Denver
Chime in With Charlie
Shooters who don't otherwise participate in hunting activities have reason to believe they've been given short shrift in the use of P-R funds. Established in 1937 as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, P-R levies an 11 percent excise tax on rifles, shotguns and ammunition and a 10-percent charge on handguns and archery equipment.
A majority of the funding comes from target shooters, collectors or people who buy guns for protection. Hunters actually pay a much smaller percentage of the tax, yet most of the money is spent on wildlife programs.
These monies are apportioned directly to the states via a formula that considers the amount of land set aside for conservation purposes and the number of hunting licenses sold.
Udall said his intent is to provide agencies with the potential to designate more places to shoot safely while reducing conflicts with nonshooters. One aspect of the bill would remove liability from the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management on these sites. Another would give state agencies the ability to rollover shooter education funds from one fiscal year to the next.
Although Udall expects the bill's introduction to be immediate, he realistically expects it to be addressed during the 2009 legislative session.
"We'll put out a letter and approach the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus," Udall said of that 200-member body. "I anticipate a lot of support for this. I can't imagine who might be opposed."
AND
Udall pushes to up funding for gun ranges
By MIKE SACCONE
The Daily Sentinel
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Congressman Mark Udall, D-Colo., announced Saturday he will introduce legislation this week to allow states to use wildland-restoration funds to create and maintain public shooting ranges.
Udall said the legislation should help abate the decline in hunting and outdoor sports in Colorado.
“I think the key is we’ve had 40 (ranges) close around Colorado over the last few years. … I don’t think it’s been healthy for the sportsmen,” Udall said.
Funds created by the 1937 Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which levies a 10 percent sales tax on all hunting equipment, are given to the states to help restore wildlife habitat.
Udall’s legislation would allow states to use up to 10 percent of the money they receive through the federal act to buy land for public shooting ranges, develop shooting ranges and maintain them.
Tim Mauck, a sportsman from Idaho Springs working on Udall’s 2008 Senate campaign, said Colorado would have had $600,000 more this year for shooting-range projects under Udall’s legislation.
Udall said his legislation will allow money received from the Pittman-Robertson Act to roll over from year to year instead of being lost.
Udall said he expects members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to sign on as co-sponsors once the bill is formally introduced.
•
E-mail Mike Saccone at msaccone@gjds.com.
You'll pardon target shooters for feeling like the redheaded stepchildren in Colorado's outdoor family. But if legislation proposed by Rep. Mark Udall comes to fruition, they soon might strut like princes.
Udall, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, plans this week to introduce an amendment to the Pittman-Robertson Act that would make almost four times as much money available each year for the development and maintenance of shooting ranges around the state.
The move comes at a time when shooting opportunity is shrinking rapidly under the force of urban development and actions by public land use agencies to eliminate dangerous and unmanageable sites. By best estimates, 40 ranges have been closed around the state in recent years.
The Udall legislation, termed the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, would allow states to use up to 10 percent of P-R funds for shooting sports opportunity and education. Colorado's 2008 P-R allotment is $6.485 million, which theoretically would make $648,000 available for shooting under the Udall proposal.
"We're not dictating to states how they'd use the money, just giving them more options how it be utilized," Udall said Sunday while visiting an informal shooting range on U.S. Forest Service land near Buffalo Creek.
Tom Remington, director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, said he welcomed the added flexibility the bill might bring. But he pointed out that P-R money diverted to shooting sports would come at the expense of existing programs.
Udall's action comes in the wake of a July 2007 memorandum of understanding (MOU) whereby DOW joined with 20 state and federal agencies and outdoor groups to establish multiple ranges at sites from Fort Collins to Pueblo. Trouble is, no money was provided for the initiative. At least not until now.
In addition to its participation in the 2007 MOU, DOW continues to pursue land and funding for a major shooting range in close proximity to the Denver
Chime in With Charlie
Shooters who don't otherwise participate in hunting activities have reason to believe they've been given short shrift in the use of P-R funds. Established in 1937 as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, P-R levies an 11 percent excise tax on rifles, shotguns and ammunition and a 10-percent charge on handguns and archery equipment.
A majority of the funding comes from target shooters, collectors or people who buy guns for protection. Hunters actually pay a much smaller percentage of the tax, yet most of the money is spent on wildlife programs.
These monies are apportioned directly to the states via a formula that considers the amount of land set aside for conservation purposes and the number of hunting licenses sold.
Udall said his intent is to provide agencies with the potential to designate more places to shoot safely while reducing conflicts with nonshooters. One aspect of the bill would remove liability from the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management on these sites. Another would give state agencies the ability to rollover shooter education funds from one fiscal year to the next.
Although Udall expects the bill's introduction to be immediate, he realistically expects it to be addressed during the 2009 legislative session.
"We'll put out a letter and approach the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus," Udall said of that 200-member body. "I anticipate a lot of support for this. I can't imagine who might be opposed."
AND
Udall pushes to up funding for gun ranges
By MIKE SACCONE
The Daily Sentinel
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Congressman Mark Udall, D-Colo., announced Saturday he will introduce legislation this week to allow states to use wildland-restoration funds to create and maintain public shooting ranges.
Udall said the legislation should help abate the decline in hunting and outdoor sports in Colorado.
“I think the key is we’ve had 40 (ranges) close around Colorado over the last few years. … I don’t think it’s been healthy for the sportsmen,” Udall said.
Funds created by the 1937 Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which levies a 10 percent sales tax on all hunting equipment, are given to the states to help restore wildlife habitat.
Udall’s legislation would allow states to use up to 10 percent of the money they receive through the federal act to buy land for public shooting ranges, develop shooting ranges and maintain them.
Tim Mauck, a sportsman from Idaho Springs working on Udall’s 2008 Senate campaign, said Colorado would have had $600,000 more this year for shooting-range projects under Udall’s legislation.
Udall said his legislation will allow money received from the Pittman-Robertson Act to roll over from year to year instead of being lost.
Udall said he expects members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to sign on as co-sponsors once the bill is formally introduced.
•
E-mail Mike Saccone at msaccone@gjds.com.