Congress nearly unanimously to protect hunter, archery and sport shooting safety education in schools. Many lawmakers have been worried that these programs would lose federal funding due to recent legislation signed by President Biden.
The , which passed last year, was designed to stop gun violence and improve mental health across the country. Part of the law bans federal funding for schools that provide training for 鈥渄angerous weapons,鈥� which stops, for instance, money from being used to train teachers to use guns or to hire cops in schools.
鈥淒angerous weapon,鈥� however, is defined as a device 鈥渢hat is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury,鈥� .
Due to that language in the law, programs for hunter education 鈥� or even outdoor skills courses that use large knives or axes 鈥� seemed to . Many this was a deliberate attack from the Biden administration on constitutional rights and rural communities. chalked the situation up to a misinterpretation of the law.
Now, the seeks to clarify that hunter, archery and sport shooting safety programs will retain support.
In recent congressional testimony, Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, highlighted the , which has enrolled millions of Americans.
鈥淔orty percent of these students claimed to be more engaged in the classroom and a remarkable 91% pursued or expressed a desire to pursue other outdoor activities,鈥� he said. 鈥淗unting and archery programs provide more than dexterity and mental skills. They foster character development, a sense of responsibility and profound connection with the beauty of our nation.鈥�
In the House of Representatives, there was only one vote against the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, and the Senate passed it unanimously. It now heads to President Biden鈥檚 desk, where it is expected to be signed.
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