CONGRESS PASSES SPENDING BILL WITH AMMUNITION PROTECTION

The U.S. Senate over the weekend on a 56-to-40 bipartisan vote approved the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act for FY15. The U.S. House approved the measure late last week.

The bill also included an important provision that further prevents the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from banning traditional ammunition made with lead components. The measure also provides the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) with $22 million dollars in additional resources to provide industry members with more efficient customer service. Funding is also included to help improve the NICS background check system by helping states put more mental health and other disqualifying records into the system.

Finally, the bill provides $3 million in grant funding for a firearm safety education and gun lock program like Project ChildSafe.—courtesy National Shooting Sports Foundation.