Gun Immunity, 30x30 Report Drops, Townhall Anniversary
Plus: podcasts you missed
Good afternoon!
Welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
If you’re just discovering my musings, here’s a backgrounder.
Here’s what I have for you today:
Biden Sets His Sights on Destroying the Gun Industry
My new Townhall column out today explores President Biden’s plans to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act and the implications that’ll stem from those efforts.
Here’s an excerpt from the piece:
President Joe Biden has the firearms industry in his crosshairs.
During his Rose Garden address last month, Biden reaffirmed his support for repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCCA) of 2005.
“This is the only outfit that is exempt from being sued. If I get one thing on my list — (if) the Lord came down and said, 'Joe, you get one of these' — give me that one," Biden said. "Most people don’t realize, the only industry in America, billion-dollar industry, that can’t be sued, exempt from being sued, are gun manufacturers.”
Biden’s hostility to this industry, however, isn’t new.
As a U.S. Senator, he voted against the PLCAA. Biden’s campaign listed repeal of the law as a top priority, stating, “This law protects these manufacturers from being held civilly liable for their products – a protection granted to no other industry. Biden will prioritize repealing this protection.”
If Biden’s administration succeeds in doing away with PLCAA, it’ll incur massive problems for lawful commerce of firearms and undermine Second Amendment rights.
DOI Drops 30X30 Report, Sportsmen Remain Skeptical
In line with a January 27th Executive Order 14008 entitled “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” the Department of Interior dropped its Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful 2021 report yesterday. It also laid out its 30x30 plans to “protect 30 percent of waters and 30 percent of lands” by 2030.
The report calls for a decade-long effort to support locally led and voluntary conservation and restoration efforts across public, private, and Tribal lands and waters in order to create jobs and strengthen the economy’s foundation; tackle the climate and nature crises; and address inequitable access to the outdoors.
The report, submitted to the National Climate Task Force, was developed by the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. It outlines eight principles that should guide the nationwide effort, including a pursuit of collaborative approaches; a commitment to supporting the voluntary conservation efforts of farmers, ranchers, and fishers; and honoring of Tribal sovereignty and private property rights.
Like many of you, I’ve been skeptical of 30x30.
After glancing over the report, lots of questions remain and specifics need to be clarified more (i.e. who will have oversight of these management decisions). I was surprised, however, by the report’s mention of prioritizing private property rights and voluntary action in conservation efforts. I didn’t expect that from this more preservation-inclined administration. From Page 6 of the report (note: fishing and angling are the same):
Rather than simply measuring conservation progress by national parks, wilderness lands, and marine protected areas in the care of the government, the President’s vision recognizes and celebrates the voluntary conservation efforts of farmers, ranchers, and forest owners; the leadership of sovereign Tribal Nations in caring for lands, waters, and wildlife; the contributions and stewardship traditions of America’s hunters, anglers, and fishing communities; and the vital importance of investing in playgrounds, trails, and open space in park-deprived communities. The President’s challenge is a call to action to support locally led conservation and restoration efforts of all kinds and all over America, wherever communities wish to safeguard the lands and waters they know and love. Doing so will not only protect our lands and waters but also boost our economy and support jobs nationwide.
To what extent will DOI and related agencies follow these recommendations remains to be seen.
Can we expect a bait and switch? Will special interest groups insist the Biden administration abandon these guidelines and go more hard left (preservationist)? They are guidelines, after all, that are subject to change. And what we’re seeing from this new administration doesn’t inspire much confidence for our issues—save for a few exceptions.
This week, it proposed an expansion of fishing and hunting opportunities on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. Great! So did the Trump administration and prior administrations—with the former opening up a total of 4M USFWS acres to new opportunities. [Their last expansion was 2.3M acres compared to this week’s proposal of 2.1M acres.]
DOI and USFWS are responsible for encouraging stewardship and access on public lands. It’s part of their mission. If they fall short, they will be held accountable.
What’s slipping under the radar: Secretary Deb Haaland has issued secretarial orders undoing policies that encouraged energy independence last administration. Her agency has also entertained closing off public land hunting in Alaska, citing “concerns.”
Be on the lookout for orders like the aforementioned. It’ll cancel out whatever “good” may come out of this administration.
House Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AR) expressed his concerns on 30x30 implementation and oversight (bolded for emphasis):
"However, this report still falls short of a serious proposal and has far too many unanswered questions, such as how 'conservation' of our lands and waters will be defined and the current baseline for what is considered 'conserved.' It is clear the administration is currently unable to answer these questions, given the report’s concerning call for a federal government-led 'Atlas,' aimed at collecting data on federal, state, tribal, county and private lands and waters. Although I am pleased to see the administration is finally publicizing information on a previously undefined goal, the lack of specific details in the report is unacceptable.
"It's vital that the administration gets past high-level talking points and defines their policies. Up until now, we have received little to no guidance on how this initiative would be enacted. I and my Republican colleagues here in Congress are proud to support a wide range of concrete conservation priorities, including the Trillion Trees Act, and we will never stop fighting for every American to have access to our rich natural resources. As the administration continues to formulate this initiative, I hope they focus on these bipartisan, commonsense proposals and avoid efforts to lock up millions of acres of new lands and waters into wilderness areas or national monuments. I look forward to continuing to work with the Department on these issues that promote real conservation."
You can read the report for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
30x30 isn’t going away. I’ll continue to cover this topic on District of Conservation, Town Hall, and CFACT too.
Happy (Town Hall) Anniversary to Me!
A year ago today, I re-joined Townhall.com — but with a new role: freelance columnist!
With this new title, I’ve been publishing both VIP and regular columns for the website.
Many readers and friends say they see my work more. I’m told my columns do quite well, and that my coverage on underreported subjects is refreshing. Yay!
To everyone who shares my columns: THANK YOU! Your support is appreciated and I’m very grateful.
Here’s a video I made last year about the announcement and what to expect from me there.
This Week’s District of Conservation Episodes
EP 172: Thomas MacAulay, POMA Executive Director
EP 173: Kristy Titus, Host of "Pursue the Wild"
EP 174: Samuel Ayres of The Wild Initiative
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—Gabriella