The U.S. Congress has passed and sent to President Joe Biden for his signature a measure that would greatly expand shooting opportunities on public lands. The legislation is important because the U.S. government manages about 28% of the country’s land mass for purposes that include the preservation and development of natural resources and outdoor recreation.

The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which had broad bipartisan support, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives back in April and the U.S. Senate last week. Most expect President Biden to sign the bill.

As NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) pointed out in a recent news item, the bill stipulates that it is the “policy of the Federal Government to foster and encourage recreation on Federal recreational lands and waters.” This legislation, if signed, would require the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to conduct an inventory and assessment of recreation resources on federal lands and to identify underutilized locations suitable for developing or expanding recreation opportunities.

Notably included within the EXPLORE Act are provisions from the Range Access Act, which requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), after consultation with local stakeholders, to build recreational shooting ranges in each BLM district and National Forest in areas where opportunities don’t already exist. These opportunities would allow for more access to public shooting ranges for target practice, a place to sight in rifles before hunting season and venues for in-person hunter safety courses, all without competing against private ranges that offer the same opportunities.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearms industry trade association, the immediate benefit of this legislation is providing increased public access to safe recreational shooting ranges, especially in rural areas. Background checks for firearm sales saw a record 21 million in 2020, another 18.5 million in 2021, 16.4 million in 2022, and 15.8 million in 2023. Those gun owners, many of whom are first-timers, need safe and modern ranges to practice marksmanship skills.

This legislation has the added benefit of supporting wildlife conservation and improving recreational shooting access. Recreational shooting is tied to approximately 85 percent of the Pittman-Robertson excise taxes currently paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers, making it a major driving contributor to wildlife conservation. 

The NSSF was just one of many shooting and sportsmen groups throughout the country that were thrilled by the Senate’s recent passage of the measure.

“We are incredibly grateful that Congress recognized the public safety and recreational benefits of this legislation,” Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel, said in a news release. “This is a tremendous win for America’s gun owners and recreational target shooters and demonstrates what can be achieved when Congress works together for common-sense legislation that will improve access to safe firing ranges available to the public.”