Shooting Range Funding

Pasted below is the text of a letter I sent to the Natural Resources Subcommittee asking for adequate funding for the Shooting Range Development Program.

The NRS is an odd legislative animal – it has members from the House Appropriations Committee and from the Senate Finance and Claims Committee (it is a “joint” subcommittee). These subcommittees (there are several) are the first stop for HB 2, the state budget bill. The NRS handles that portion of the budget for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The members of the NRS are:

Chair: Rep. Galen Hollenbaugh, D-Helena
Vice chair: Sen. Rick Ripley, R-Wolf Creek
Rep. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip
Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad
Rep. Robert Mehlhoff, D-Great Falls
Sen. John Brenden, R-Scobey
Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls

Please send messages to these legislators asking them to put the necessary funds into the FWP budget for the SRDP.

Thanks loads,

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com
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February 4, 2009

Name
Natural Resources Subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee
Senate Finance and Claims Committee
Montana Legislature
Montana State Capitol
Helena, Montana 59620

Dear Name,

MSSA began the Shooting Range Development Program (SRDP) in 1989, making some hunter license dollars available through FWP for local clubs through 50/50 matching grants, to establish and improve safe and suitable places for people to shoot across Montana. This hugely successful and popular program has caused a dramatic increase in safe shooting for Montana gun owners and hunters.

But, there is a lot of work yet to be done. Last Session at our request the Legislature appropriated $1 million for the SRDP. All of that funding has been spent or obligated by FWP. FWP has $650,000 in their budget request for this biennium – good, but not enough.

We are asking that the Legislature appropriate $1.2 million for the SRDP this Session.

Remember, if people are not shooting, they won’t be hunting and buying licenses to fund wildlife management. We think using the SRDP to help keep Montana people shooting in safe places is a great long-term investment of hunter license dollars, an investment with which hunters agree.

Please make sure that there is $1.2 million in FWP’s section of HB 2 for shooting ranges.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Marbut
President