31 Major Hunting and Wildlife Organizations Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Oppose Universal Background Checks

From the NRA- The National Rifle Association, with 30 other prominent hunting and wildlife preservation organizations which represent tens of millions of Americans, sent the following letter to the leadership in the United States Senate. This letter lays out a 5-point plan to make our communities safer. The organizations strongly oppose unnecessary restrictions which would not reduce crime or prevent tragedy, such as universal background checks.

April 4, 2013 

Dear Senators: 

Our organizations, which represent millions of Americans who actively support professional 

wildlife management and the advancement of our nation’s hunting and recreational shooting 

heritage, are writing to express our sincere hope that your upcoming gun control debate will be 

constructive.   

Like you, we were devastated by the recent tragedy in Connecticut, and we share your goal of 

ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to prevent similar acts of senseless violence in the 

future.  We believe an opportunity exists to enact legislation that addresses the causative agents 

of this and similar tragic events. Specifically we support:  

●National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) improvement measures that

will effectively prevent access to firearms by those not legally qualified to possess them, 

without criminalizing private transfers; 

● Vigorous enforcement of existing federal firearms laws; 

● Efforts to improve security in our nation’s schools; 

● A comprehensive process to review, evaluate and recommend changes to our nation’s 

treatment of the mentally ill before their actions result in these devastating consequences; 

and 

● The development and implementation of a community based “family watch” program 

that helps families with concerns that an immediate family member who they believe has 

the potential to become a societal danger is afforded the assistance that they need to 

intervene before a tragedy occurs.  

As much as we support this five point plan that responds to the causative agents that could have 

potentially avoided this tragedy, we oppose unnecessary restrictions of our ability to attain and 

possess legal firearms and that have no foundation in addressing the factors that led to this 

tragedy or like tragedies.  

In addition, the signatories to this letter are proud of our hunting and recreational shooting 

heritage and the support that our activities contribute to our nation’s conservation, economic and 

societal interests.  

Specifically, shooting sports participants are the largest financial supporters of wildlife 

conservation throughout the United States, having contributed over $5.4 billion to the 

management of our nation’s wildlife, recreational shooting and hunter education through 
Pittman-Robertson excise tax payments since 1991. This uniquely American System of 
Conservation Funding – a “user pays-public benefits” system - is heralded internationally as the 
most successful wildlife management program in the world.  

Economically, the companies in the United States that manufacture, distribute and sell firearms, 
ammunition and hunting equipment employ as many as 98,752 people in the country and 
generate an additional 110,998 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries.  In 2012 alone the 
firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $31.84 billion in total 
economic activity in the United States. The significant contributions these companies are making 
to our nation’s economic recovery should not be sacrificed to unnecessary and ineffective 
restrictions and bans, no matter how well-intended their proponents may be.   

These lawful recreational activities provide untold hours of benefits to our nation’s families and 
their friend and neighbors that should not be unnecessarily impinged upon.  

For these reasons, the undersigned organizations respectfully request that you continue to work 
collectively, as the voice of sportsmen and recreational shooters in Congress, toward pragmatic 
bipartisan solutions in a manner that enhances wildlife conservation, benefits the economy and 
protects America’s rich hunting and shooting heritage, while not impeding the Second 
Amendment rights of our members.  Thank you for your ongoing service to our nation and future 
generations of sportsmen and women conservationists.  

Sincerely, 

Archery Trade Association 

Boone and Crockett Club 

Campfire Club of America 

Catch-A-Dream Foundation 

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation 

Conservation Force 

Dallas Safari Club 

Delta Waterfowl 

Masters of Foxhounds 

Mule Deer Foundation 

National Rifle Association 

National Shooting Sports Foundation 

National Trappers Association 

National Wild Turkey Federation 

North American Bear Foundation 

North American Grouse Partnership 

Orion, The Hunter’s Institute 

Pheasants Forever 

Pope & Young Club 

Quail Forever 

Quality Deer Management Association 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 

Ruffed Grouse Society 

Safari Club International 

Texas Wildlife Association 

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance   

Whitetails Unlimited 

Wild Sheep Foundation 

Wildlife Forever 

Wildlife Management Institute 

Wildlife Mississippi 

CC: The Honorable Patrick Leahy 

The Honorable Chuck Grassley