Press Releases

Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) introduced a resolution condemning the Department Education’s attack on schools that educate their students on responsible firearm handling. This resolution has been endorsed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Safari Club International.

“President Biden’s push to outlaw hunter and archery programs deprives Wisconsin students of valuable hunting lessons that make our children more comfortable outdoors,” said Grothman. “The federal government has no place in our schools. The decision to weaponize federal funds to target schools offering this training is a gross abuse of power that goes against the best interest of America’s next generation.”

“The anti-gun hysteria in the Biden Administration has no business impeding on the lives of aspiring young outdoorsmen and undermining the rights of law-abiding Wisconsinites. As a proud defender of the Second Amendment, my resolution stands in opposition to this blatant federal overreach.”

“The Department of Education and Secretary Cardona are responsible for ignoring their mandate set by Congress in the BSCA, and now it falls on Congress to hold the Department accountable and ensure that the next generation of outdoor sportsmen and women are not purposefully denied critical instruction by the Biden administration,” said Ben Cassidy, Executive Vice President for International Government and Public Affairs for Safari Club International. “SCI and our nationwide membership thank Congressman Grothman for taking action to send a clear message: bureaucratic overreach will not deny America’s hunting heritage.”  

Background Information

Hunter, archery, and other shooting sports education programs oftentimes provide children with engagement opportunities and prepare students with responsible firearm handling and storing practices. Additionally, these courses support and teach youth good stewardship of the environment and outdoor risk management techniques. Despite evident benefits, the Biden Administration directed its Department of Education to eliminate support for hunter and archery education.

Specifically, the Department of Education is stripping Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) funds from schools under their misguided interpretation of an amendment passed in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which states that ESEA funds would be prohibited for initiatives that provide any person with a dangerous weapon or provide “training in the use of a dangerous weapon.”

In response to President Biden’s intentional misinterpretation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to strip funding from critical hunting and archery classes, Grothman’s House Resolution condemns the decision of the Secretary of Education to prohibit the use of ESEA funds for these programs and reaffirm that hunter and archery programs should continue to be eligible to receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

It is essential that funding is restored to protect and further these programs for future hunting, archery, and other shooting sports generations to come.

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U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) is serving his fifth term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.