What This Bill Does
This bill asks federal agencies to create public shooting ranges on National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. The ranges would allow people to practice shooting with rifles, pistols, shotguns and potentially archery. The bill sets timelines for identifying suitable locations and building these facilities.
Who It Affects
The public who want to use shooting ranges for recreational target shooting. National Forest System managers. Bureau of Land Management officials. Local and tribal governments. Shooting clubs. State fish and wildlife agencies. Non-profit organizations involved in hunting and shooting sports.
Key Provisions
* Federal agencies must create a public list within one year identifying which National Forests and Bureau of Land Management districts have shooting ranges and which ones need them (Sec. 2(b)(1))
* Federal agencies must identify at least one suitable location for a shooting range in each National Forest and Bureau of Land Management district where it is legally allowed, considering nearby recreational shooters and other uses (Sec. 2(b)(2))
* Within five years, federal agencies must either build a new shooting range, modify an existing one, or partner with outside groups to establish ranges that meet specific safety requirements (Sec. 2(b)(3)(A))
* All shooting ranges must accommodate rifles, pistols and shotguns, may accommodate archery, must include safety features like berms and firing lines, and cannot charge users a fee (Sec. 2(b)(3)(B))
* Federal agencies must submit annual progress reports to Congress through fiscal year 2033 (Sec. 2(e))
What Changes
If this becomes law, the federal government will be required to build or help establish public shooting ranges on federal lands. People will have designated places to shoot legally on National Forest and Bureau of Land Management property at no cost. Federal agencies will need to spend resources identifying locations, consulting with communities and constructing these facilities.
Important Definitions
A "target shooting range" is a developed and managed area that is authorized or operated by the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management specifically for the public to discharge legal firearms, conduct firearms training, do archery, or participate in related activities (Sec. 2(a)).
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1614
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on National Forest
System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Man-
agement for the public to use for recreational target shooting, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 17, 2023
Mr. MOORE of Utah (for himself and Mr. PANETTA) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in
addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To facilitate the creation of designated shooting ranges on
National Forest System land and public land adminis-
tered by the Bureau of Land Management for the public
to use for recreational target shooting, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Range Access Act’’.
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•HR 1614 IH
SEC. 2. TARGET SHOOTING RANGES.
1
(a) DEFINITION OF TARGET SHOOTING RANGE.—In
2
this section, the term ‘‘target shooting range’’ means a
3
developed and managed area that is authorized or oper-
4
ated by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Manage-
5
ment specifically for the purposeful discharge by the public
6
of legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or other asso-
7
ciated activities.
8
(b) ASSESSMENT; IDENTIFICATION
OF
TARGET
9
SHOOTING RANGE LOCATIONS.—
10
(1) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 1 year after
11
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary con-
12
cerned shall make available to the public a list
13
that—
14
(A) identifies each National Forest and
15
each Bureau of Land Management district that
16
has a target shooting range that meets the re-
17
quirements described in paragraph (3)(B);
18
(B) identifies each National Forest and
19
each Bureau of Land Management district that
20
does not have a target shooting range that
21
meets the requirements described in paragraph
22
(3)(B); and
23
(C) for each National Forest and each Bu-
24
reau of Land Management district identified
25
under subparagraph (B), provides a determina-
26
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•HR 1614 IH
tion of whether applicable law or the applicable
1
land use plan prevents the establishment of a
2
target shooting range that meets the require-
3
ments described in paragraph (3)(B).
4
(2) IDENTIFICATION
OF
TARGET
SHOOTING
5
RANGE LOCATIONS.—
6
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary con-
7
cerned shall identify at least 1 suitable location
8
for a target shooting range that meets the re-
9
quirements described in paragraph (3)(B) with-
10
in each National Forest and each Bureau of
11
Land Management district with respect to
12
which the Secretary concerned has determined
13
under paragraph (1)(C) that the establishment
14
of a target shooting range is not prevented by
15
applicable law or the applicable land use plan.
16
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretaries, in
17
consultation with the entities described in sub-
18
section (d), shall, for purposes of identifying a
19
suitable location for a target shooting range
20
under subparagraph (A)—
21
(i) consider the proximity of areas fre-
22
quently used by recreational shooters;
23
(ii) ensure that the target shooting
24
range would not adversely impact a shoot-
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•HR 1614 IH
ing range operated or maintained by a
1
non-Federal entity, including a shooting
2
range located on private land; and
3
(iii) consider other nearby recreational
4
uses to minimize potential conflict.
5
(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW TARGET SHOOT-
6
ING RANGES.—
7
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years
8
after the date of enactment of this Act, at 1 or
9
more suitable locations identified on each eligi-
10
ble National Forest and each Bureau of Land
11
Management district under paragraph (2)(A),
12
the Secretary concerned shall—
13
(i) subject to the availability of appro-
14
priations, construct a target shooting
15
range that meets the requirements de-
16
scribed in subparagraph (B) or modify an
17
existing target shooting range to meet the
18
requirements described in subparagraph
19
(B); or
20
(ii) enter into an agreement with an
21
entity described in subsection (d)(1), under
22
which the entity shall establish or maintain
23
a target shooting range that meets the re-
24
quirements described in subparagraph (B).
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•HR 1614 IH
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—A target shooting
1
range established under this paragraph—
2
(i)(I) shall be able to accommodate ri-
3
fles, pistols, and shotguns; and
4
(II) may accommodate archery;
5
(ii) shall include appropriate public
6
safety designs and features, including—
7
(I) significantly modified land-
8
scapes, including berms, buffer dis-
9
tances, or other public safety designs
10
or features;
11
(II) a designated firing line; and
12
(III) benches;
13
(iii) may include—
14
(I) shade structures;
15
(II) trash containers;
16
(III) restrooms; and
17
(IV) any other features that the
18
Secretary concerned determines to be
19
necessary; and
20
(iv) may not require a user to pay a
21
fee to use the target shooting range.
22
(C) RECREATION AND PUBLIC PURPOSES
23
ACT.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
24
Secretary concerned may consider a target
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•HR 1614 IH
shooting range that is located on land trans-
1
ferred pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1926
2
(commonly known as the ‘‘Recreation and Pub-
3
lic Purposes Act’’) (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578;
4
43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), as a target shooting
5
range that meets the requirements described in
6
subparagraph (B).
7
(c) RESTRICTIONS.—
8
(1) MANAGEMENT.—The management of a tar-
9
get shooting range shall be subject to such condi-
10
tions as the Secretary concerned determines are nec-
11
essary for the safe, responsible use of—
12
(A) the target shooting range; and
13
(B) the adjacent land and resources.
14
(2) CLOSURES.—Except in emergency situa-
15
tions, the Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure
16
that a target shooting range that meets the require-
17
ments described in subsection (b)(3)(B), or an
18
equivalent shooting range adjacent to a National
19
Forest or Bureau of Land Management district, is
20
available to the public prior to closing Federal rec-
21
reational lands and waters administered by the Chief
22
of the Forest Service or the Director of the Bureau
23
of Land Management to recreational shooting, in ac-
24
cordance with section 4103 of the John D. Dingell,
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•HR 1614 IH
Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act
1
(16 U.S.C. 7913).
2
(d) CONSULTATIONS.—
3
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section,
4
the Secretaries shall consult, as applicable, with—
5
(A) local and Tribal governments;
6
(B) nonprofit or nongovernmental organi-
7
zations, including organizations that are sig-
8
natories to the memorandum of understanding
9
entitled ‘‘Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and
10
Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of
11
Understanding’’ and signed by the Forest Serv-
12
ice and the Bureau of Land Management on
13
August 17, 2006;
14
(C) State fish and wildlife agencies;
15
(D) shooting clubs;
16
(E) Federal advisory councils relating to
17
hunting and shooting sports;
18
(F) individuals or entities with authorized
19
leases or permits in an area under consideration
20
for a target shooting range;
21
(G) State and local offices of outdoor
22
recreation;
23
(H) State and local public safety agencies;
24
and
25
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•HR 1614 IH
(I) the public.
1
(2) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretaries may—
2
(A) coordinate with an entity described in
3
paragraph (1) to assist with the construction,
4
modification, operation, or maintenance of a
5
target shooting range; and
6
(B) explore opportunities to leverage fund-
7
ing to maximize non-Federal investment in the
8
construction, modification, operation, or main-
9
tenance of a target shooting range.
10
(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after
11
the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter
12
through fiscal year 2033, the Secretaries shall submit to
13
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
14
Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the
15
House of Representatives a report describing the progress
16
made with respect to the implementation of this section.
17
(f) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section affects
18
the authority of the Secretary concerned to administer a
19
target shooting range that is in addition to the target
20
shooting ranges that meet the requirements described in
21
subsection (b)(3)(B) on Federal recreational lands and
22
waters administered by the Secretary concerned.
23
Æ
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