FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 14, 2023
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343
Dr. Rand Paul Continues Fight Against Biden Administration’s Assault on Kentucky Values and School Programs
Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act Would Protect Kentucky Archery and Hunting Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, the Biden Administration announced their plan to withhold funding from schools with hunting and archery programs, based on purposeful misinterpretation of a provision in last year’s gun control legislation. As a continuation of his efforts to fight back against this assault on Kentucky values and these important school programs, today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act. Last year, Dr. Paul fought to protect Kentuckians’ rights during the Senate’s consideration of gun control legislation. He proposed several amendments, including one to remove the provision preventing schools from using funds to be spent on arming and training personnel to protect students and teachers.
Dr. Paul’s new legislation aims to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by eliminating the restriction on using funds for the provision of weapons or training and permits funding for training students in archery, hunting, or other shooting sports.
“The Biden Administration is using the same provision I fought to have stripped from the gun control bill to wrongly justify their assault on Kentucky students’ hunting and archery programs,” said Dr. Paul. “My Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act permanently removes that provision and ensures the Administration’s baseless attack on Kentucky and American values ends at the federal level.”
U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-5) will introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“The federal government has no business imposing federal restrictions on local schools that choose to offer programs to educate students on firearm safety and the skills required for hunting and archery,” said Congressman Ogles. “I’m pleased to be able to join Dr. Paul in this effort to push back against the Biden Administration’s proposed block of federal funds for schools that offer these extracurricular courses.”
More than 500,000 students participate and are certified through hunter education courses each year. These important programs help students learn how to handle firearms safely — in turn, decreasing firearm-related injuries and accidents.
The Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act is currently cosponsored by Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
The legislation is endorsed by the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), Gun Owners of America (GOA), and Second Amendment Hunters.
You can read the full text of the Educating Responsible Future Hunters Act HERE.
Background:
Recently, Dr. Paul and 18 Senate Republicans sent a letter to President Biden urging his administration to withdraw its plans to block funding for elementary and secondary schools with hunting and archery programs.
During consideration of the gun control bill in the Senate last year, Dr. Paul introduced several amendments and solutions to rectify the constitutional deficiencies of the legislation. Had one of Dr. Paul’s amendments been adopted instead of blocked, the Biden Administration would have been unable to use the gun control bill to threaten the existence of these educational activities.
While Dr. Paul voted against the gun control bill, 15 Republican Senators joined with Democrats to pass it.
###