NRA Urges Governors to Keep Public Lands Open

Fairfax, Va. - The National Rifle Association, along with other pro-hunting organizations, sent a letter to governors of all 50 states on Friday urging them to keep public lands open for hunting and fishing during the COVID-19 pandemic.​

"Now, perhaps more than ever, families need access to hunting and fishing grounds so they can put food on the table for their families," said Jason Oumet, executive director, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.  "There is no reason why people should be prohibited from spending time alone in America's wide-open spaces. At its core, hunting is the original social distancing."

The NRA teamed with the Dallas Safari Club, Hunter Nation and Safari Club International in the effort. The letter outlines the reasons why keeping public lands is crucial during this period while strongly supporting efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing. 

In part, the letter reads: 

"Closing these areas significantly limits the ability of our nation's millions of sportsmen and women who take to our woods, waters, and wild lands every year to pursue their passion for the outdoors -- an activity that is, at its core, America's most traditional form of "social distancing." Further, given the economic effects of COVID-19, it is more important than ever to allow hunters and anglers access to healthy and inexpensive sources of food to support their families."

The letter was sent to governors of all 50 states Friday morning.