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April 22, 2020
NSSF Profile Q & A: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R – West Virginia)
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to post the latest of our occasional Q&A features with an elected official who supports hunting and the shooting sports. NSSF thanks West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R) for agreeing to talk with us.
Who introduced you to hunting/the shooting sports and at what age?
I was first introduced to shooting sports at summer camp around age 10: rifle target practice and gun safety.
Describe your favorite aspect of hunting?
For me, I cherish the opportunity to spend time in the wild and wonderful West Virginia back country. Tucked away in our mountains and hollows are some of the most beautiful regions of our country, teeming with wildlife. Hunting is a huge generational and cultural sport in my state, and I really appreciate that history and family aspect.
Describe your favorite shooting sport/hunting activity?
It’s hard to beat shooting clays off a cabin porch in Appalachia.
Which piece of pending legislation related to the firearm industry is particularly important to you and why?
I’m co-sponsoring a bill that calls for concealed carry reciprocity throughout the country [S.69 – Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2019]. Properly licensed individuals should be able to carry their concealed handguns across state lines. If your driver’s license is recognized across state lines, your concealed carry permit should be as well.
Additionally, I am a co-sponsor of legislation that strengthens federal protection for gun owners who travel through jurisdictions that have more stringent firearm laws as they transport firearms across state lines [S.3139 – Lawful Interstate Transportation of Firearms Act]. West Virginians have raised these concerns to me back home, and I am committed to helping ease the burdens on lawful gun owners.
What do you see as the challenges and opportunities for hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts in this congressional session?
Gun owners in West Virginia take their right to bear arms seriously and know the great responsibility that comes with it. Hunting is such an important aspect of our culture in West Virginia, and it is vital that a distinction is made between law-abiding gun owners and dangerous criminal actors. That’s been challenging in this polarized Congress.
However, there are and have been great opportunities for sportsmen as well. Last summer, President Trump signed into law my bill – the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act – which provides responsible incentives for creating and maintaining public shooting ranges. By improving coordination at the federal, state and local levels, we can help create and maintain shooting ranges so that even more people in our state and across the country can responsibly take part in these activities.
You may also be interested in:
https://www.nssf.org/nssf-profile-q-a-governor-kristi-noem-r-south-dakota/
https://www.nssf.org/nssf-qa-u-s-sen-heidi-heitkamp-d-n-d-2/
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