This National Shooting Sports Month, we celebrate America’s proud tradition of recreational shooting and hunting and the glorious exercise of our Second Amendment rights.  For generations, this time-honored way of life has instilled discipline, promoted rugged individualism that drove American civilization west, and connected millions of Americans to the great outdoors. 

The right to keep and bear arms is among the most cherished liberties secured by our Constitution and rooted in the timeless truth that our rights are endowed by Almighty God, not granted by government.  This foundational freedom depends upon citizens who exercise it with discipline, integrity, and care, understanding that the blessings of liberty are preserved through personal responsibility and a steadfast commitment to the common good.      

That same sense of duty runs through our Nation’s rich sporting traditions, which remain inseparable from America’s enduring commitment to conservation.  Hunters and anglers have long led that cause, preserving countless acres of wildlife habitat, restoring thriving game populations, and safeguarding the beauty of our public lands and waters for those yet to come.  Through the Make America Beautiful Again Commission, my Administration is prioritizing that proud legacy by expanding access to America’s natural treasures, promoting responsible stewardship of our landscape, and ensuring that our frontier heritage remains forever strong and our great outdoors remain more vibrant than ever before.  The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives also updated regulations to align with statutory language and case law, reducing unnecessary burdens on law-abiding gun owners while upholding the Constitution.

We are also expanding access to recreational shooting on public lands.  The Bureau of Land Management is making it easier to use existing public and private shooting ranges, while the United States Forest Service is opening more recreational shooting opportunities on designated Federal land.  Additionally, the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture are working with the public, including shooting sports and conservation organizations, to further increase public access to hunting and shooting opportunities.  

As we celebrate National Shooting Sports Month, we honor the men and women who pass these passions and principles from one generation to the next, teaching respect for nature, firearm safety, personal responsibility, and love of country.  Together, we will continue to defend our Second Amendment rights, protect the Constitutional freedoms that safeguard our Independence, preserve America’s magnificent outdoors, and uphold the timeless sporting traditions that have helped shape the character, strength, and spirit of our great Republic.