What is a PAC?
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) PAC and the National Shooting Sports Association (NSSF) PAC are organizations that financially support the Congressional election campaigns of individuals who help protect our rights to hunt and fish. These PACs are bipartisan, and base their contributions on the voting records of Senators, Congressmen and -women—not their party affiliation. They need the help of outdoor retailers and distributors to raise funds for candidates who will protect our industry.
What are the goals of these PACs?
Their mission is to ensure the outdoor shooting sports and fishing industries have an influential voice and presence in the American electoral process, advancing our mutual interests of conservation and promoting a healthy and vibrant outdoor industry. This is done by taking your donations and participating in key fundraisers for candidates that support the outdoor industry.
Why do we need the support of Congress?
Every two years the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for re-election (November 2018). This Congress will need to address key issues like reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that governs all marine fisheries, and the passage of the Sportsmen’s Act, which provides more access to hunting and fishing, reduces industry regulations and improves access, habitat restoration and other sportsmen’s rights too numerous to mention here. Now more than ever, we need a unified voice and the ability to provide funds for re-election campaigns if we want to be heard in Congress.
How can you help?
If you are an NSSF or ASA member, you can visit their respective websites and learn more about NSSFPAC and SportfishingPAC. You can also sign up and contribute to the PACs. Each site is open to members. To learn more about joining NSSFPAC, contact Kayla Berube at kberube@nssf.org or 202.220.1340 ext. 206. For SportfishingPAC, contact Ashley Brinkman at abrinkman@asafishing.org or 703.519.8681 ext. 255.