It’s official – all four Bass Champs Texas Regions have now begun. The North Region kicked off February 4th on Cedar Creek with 160 teams vying for a portion of the 105% tournament payback. Every ounce counted as weights were stacked tight! Lee Yowell and Brian Schott came out on top to win over $25,000.

Protection of fishing, hunting, and shooting on national forest and public lands has taken a step forward with the Senate introduction of the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act.

Last week, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. issued a ruling upholding an Obama administration policy that requires federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles.  The case was brought by two NRA-backed firearms retailers and by the National Shooting Sports Foundation acting on behalf of its affected members. 

Moments before this alert was to go out (1/13/12), a federal district court in Washington, D.C. issued a ruling upholding an Obama administration policy that requires federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles. 

Here are some of the top stories we brought you in the NRA-ILA Grassroots Alert in 2011.  With what will be a critically important 2012, we must increase our efforts to ensure we're prepared to meet the great opportunities and challenges we will face next year.  We will continue to provide you with information in future Alerts to ensure our mutual success.

The National Rifle Association is accepting applications from high school sophomores and juniors across the country for the National Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) from June 25 – July 1, 2012 in Washington, DC.

This year, NRA-ILA worked with pro-gun legislators to include a provision in the 2012 Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations legislation to help prohibit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from banning the importation of shotguns that are currently legally imported.

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), along with numerous recreational fishing and boating organizations and dozens of Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, continues to strongly advocate for a legislative solution that requires that science be the primary force behind federal marine fisheries management decisions.