U.S. Congressman Andy Ogels (R-TN-05) joined U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) in introducing legislation on Thursday to fight back against the Biden Administration’s attempt to keep hunting and archery programs out of schools.
This follows the Biden administration recently announcing their plan to withhold funding from schools that provide these programs. It claims that under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) passed last year, school hunting and archery classes are precluded from receiving federal funding.
Lawmakers passed the BSCA in June, which included an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, which prohibits funds under the law’s jurisdiction “for the provision to any person of a dangerous weapon … or training in the use of a dangerous weapon.”
This new legislation, known as the Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act, aims to amend the ESA by eliminating the restriction on using funds to provide weapons or training and permits funding for training students in archery, hunting, or other shooting sports.
According to Ogles, it pleases him to join Paul in opposition to the Biden administration’s effort to block federal funds for schools that offer these programs.
“The federal government has no business imposing federal restrictions on local schools that choose to offer programs to educate students on firearm safety and the skills required for hunting and archery. I’m pleased to be able to join Dr. Paul in this effort to push back against the Biden Administration’s proposed block of federal funds for schools that offer these extracurricular courses,” Ogles said.
According to Paul, this legislation permanently removes the provision in the ESEA restricting funds for schools with these extracurricular programs.
“The Biden Administration is using the same provision I fought to have stripped from the gun control bill to wrongly justify their assault on Kentucky students’ hunting and archery programs. My Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act permanently removes that provision and ensures the Administration’s baseless attack on Kentucky and American values ends at the federal level,” Paul said.
The lawmakers detail that each year, more than 500,000 students take part in and graduate from hunter education programs. These crucial initiatives aid students in developing safe gun handling techniques, hence lowering the number of accidents and injuries with firearms.
U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) are co-sponsors on The Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act.
The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), Gun Owners of America (GOA), and Second Amendment Hunters also endorse this legislation.
In a recent letter to President Joe Biden, 19 Senate Republicans urged him to reverse his administration’s decision to withhold money from elementary and secondary schools offering hunting and archery programs.
In the letter, they call on the Biden administration to immediately reverse this “misguided” decision and ensure that these programs receive their funding.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, The Arizona Sun Times, and The Tennessee Star. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
