I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3440 
To provide for certain oversight and approval on any decisions to close 
National Monument land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land 
Management to recreational shooting, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 16, 2011 
Mr. FLAKE (for himself, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. 
AKIN, Mr. POMPEO, Mr. BROUN
of Georgia, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. 
FARENTHOLD, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. HULTGREN, and Mr. WALSH of Illi-
nois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for certain oversight and approval on any deci-
sions to close National Monument land under the juris-
diction of the Bureau of Land Management to rec-
reational shooting, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recreational Shooting 
Protection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(2) NATIONAL
MONUMENT
LAND.—The term 
‘‘National Monument land’’ has the meaning given 
that term in the Act of June 8, 1908 (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Antiquities Act’’; 16 U.S.C. 431 et 
seq.). 
(3) 
RECREATIONAL
SHOOTING.—The 
term 
‘‘recreational shooting’’ includes any form of sport, 
training, competition, or pastime, whether formal or 
informal, that involves the discharge of a rifle, hand-
gun, or shotgun, or the use of a bow and arrow. 
SEC. 3. RECREATIONAL SHOOTING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
National Monument land under the jurisdiction of the Bu-
reau of Land Management shall be open to access and 
use for recreational shooting, except such closures and re-
strictions determined by the Director to be necessary and 
reasonable and supported by facts and evidence for one 
or more of the following: 
(1) Reasons of national security. 
(2) Reasons of public safety. 
(3) To comply with an applicable Federal stat-
ute. 
(b) NOTICE; REPORT.— 
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(1) REQUIREMENT.—Except as set forth in 
paragraph (2)(B), before a restriction or closure 
under subsection (a) is made effective, the Director 
shall— 
(A) publish public notice of such closure or 
restriction in a newspaper of general circulation 
in the area where the closure or restriction will 
be carried out; and 
(B) submit to Congress a report detailing 
the location and extent of, and evidence justi-
fying, such a closure or restriction. 
(2) TIMING.—The Director shall issue the no-
tice and report required under paragraph (1)— 
(A) before the closure if practicable with-
out risking national security or public safety; 
and 
(B) in cases where such issuance is not 
practicable for reasons of national security or 
public safety, not later than 30 days after the 
closure. 
(c) CESSATION OF CLOSURE OR RESTRICTION.—A 
closure or restriction under paragraph (1) or (2) of sub-
section (a) shall cease to be effective— 
(1) effective on the day after the last day of the 
six-month period beginning on the date on which the 
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Director submitted the report to Congress under 
subsection (b)(2) regarding the closure or restric-
tion, unless the closure or restriction has been ap-
proved by Federal law; and 
(2) 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
a Federal law disapproving the closure or restriction. 
(d) MANAGEMENT.—Consistent with subsection (a), 
the Director shall manage National Monument land under 
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management— 
(1) in a manner that supports, promotes, and 
enhances recreational shooting opportunities; 
(2) to the extent authorized under State law 
(including regulations); and 
(3) in accordance with applicable Federal law 
(including regulations). 
(e) LIMITATION ON DUPLICATIVE CLOSURES OR RE-
STRICTIONS.—Director may not issue a closure or restric-
tion under subsection (a) that is substantially similar to 
closure or restriction previously issued that was not ap-
proved by Federal law. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE FOR PRIOR CLOSURES AND RE-
STRICTIONS.—On the date that is six months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, this Act shall apply to 
closures and restrictions in place on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act that relate to access and use for rec-
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reational shooting on National Monument land under the 
jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(g) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than October 1 of 
each year, the Director shall submit to the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate a report that describes— 
(1) any National Monument land under the ju-
risdiction of the Bureau of Land Management that 
was closed to recreational shooting or on which rec-
reational shooting was restricted at any time during 
the preceding year; and 
(2) the reason for the closure. 
(h) NO PRIORITY.—Nothing in this Act requires the 
Director to give preference to recreational shooting over 
other uses of Federal public land or over land or water 
management priorities established by Federal law. 
(i) AUTHORITY OF THE STATES.— 
(1) SAVINGS.—Nothing in this Act affects the 
authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of a State to 
manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife under 
State law (including regulations) on land or water in 
the State, including Federal public land. 
(2) FEDERAL LICENSES.—Nothing in this Act 
authorizes the Director to require a license for rec-
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reational shooting on land or water in a State, in-
cluding on Federal public land in the State. 
Æ 
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