HR 6492 / The Bataan Death March
1.) HR 6492 "To improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, Federal public land, and for other purposes."
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), garnered 51 bipartisan cosponsors. The measure was approved in a voice vote, a rare demonstration of Congress working across party lines.
The EXPLORE Act must be approved by the U.S. Senate before it can be considered by President Joe Biden.
The bill includes the Range Access Act, which would increase and improve outdoor recreation opportunities across the nation while improving infrastructure and driving economic growth in rural communities.
Specifically, that portion of the bill would require the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have at least one qualifying recreational shooting range in each National Forest and BLM district which is crucial to ensuring safe public recreational shooting. The EXPLORE Act also contains other provisions to improve hunting and recreational shooting access.
Congress Giveth and New York Taketh Away
NY Senate bill S8461A introduced by Senator Harckham (D. District 40 – Peekskill & east) is aimed at driving Rod & Gun clubs and any shooting ranges out of business in the name of preventing ‘lead migration’.
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If unable to comply with the requirements, the range shall construct and maintain appropriate backstops to prevent lead migration outside of the designated skeet field tract. Such backstops shall be constructed of material that effectively captures bullets and shall be covered by a roof to prevent precipitation from eroding such backstops.
1st violation is $1,000 per day fine and 2nd violation is $2,500 per day fine.
The bill is currently in the Environmental Conservation Committee but it more accurately would be in the Gun Grabbers Committee.
If you enjoy a shooting range, you might consider doing what the next SCOPE member did.
Letter to Legislature
A SCOPE member sent the following letter to his State Senator and Assemblyperson with a copy to Kathy Hochul. We need more people to do this to let legislators know where we stand and remind them that we are watching.
Dear Representatives,
I value my life and will not travel nor spend money in New Youk City. This is an area of New York State that is a cesspool of violent crime with no deterrent to correct the problem. Bill O’Reilly states how dangerous it is on the streets and in the subways. Other news networks often show footage of innocent victims brutally assaulted and pushed into whatever. I fail to understand how any police office can go to work and do their job, because the courts and the mayor fail to support what they do.
Two legislators are sponsoring legislation A03855 and S05763. These bills are another assault on the US Constitution and the 2nd Amendment. Tennessee’s Senate passed a bill for teachers to carry concealed firearms in school K-12. Society is looking for alternatives to protect life. All the legislation on gun controlhas not helped. Now these two legislators along with many others want to turn upstate NY into a community just like NY City.
Gov. K Hochul awarded $ 12 million to address our mental health issues. We’ll be watching to see if these resources help. We should be addressing our drug issues as well. Correct the health issues and most of the gun problems will go away.
Think how to resolve problems.
NOTE from SCOPE: A3855 and S5763 establish “additional requirements to purchase a firearm, shotgun or rifle.”
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2.) Bataan Death March
Scope tries to remind you of important historical anniversaries. We missed one, last week, but thanks to Tom Shepstone of Energy Security and Freedom for reminding us.
During World War II, on April 9, 1942, 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers surrendered to Japanese forces after months of battling in the Philippines. These soldiers, including members of the 200th Coast Artillery from the New Mexico National Guard, endured extreme conditions, defending Luzon and Corregidor with outdated equipment and limited supplies.
Following their surrender, from April 9th through the 17th, the prisoners faced horrific treatment as POW’s, enduring deprivation and a grueling 65-mile march known as the Bataan Death March, where it is estimated between 5,500 and 18,650 died. The march was marked by severe physical abuse and wanton killings. POWs who fell or were caught on the ground were shot.
The POWs wouldn’t see freedom until 1945, when U.S.-Filipino forces recaptured the Philippines, yet many suffered health complications or perished after liberation. This event profoundly impacted New Mexico families, with hundreds of soldiers from the 200th and 515th Coast Artilleries never returning home.
After the war, Japanese commander General Masaharu Homma and two officers were tried for war crimes and sentenced to death for failing to prevent atrocities committed by their subordinates.
On July 4th 1946, the United States granted independence to the Philippines. Freedom doesn’t come cheap, anywhere.
