Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act ( BSCA ) in June 2022 , and contained within the guncontrol package was increased funding for security and mental health resources in public schools . However , the bill also included language that prohibited those federal funds from being used to purchase or to provide training for any person in the use of dangerous |
weapons . That language was quickly interpreted by the Department of Education to deny funding for archery , hunter education and outdoor-skills programs in schools nationwide .
Section 13401 of the BSCA prohibits federal funds being used “ for the provision to any person of a dangerous weapon ... or training in the use of a dangerous weapon .” The intent of Congress was to ensure that these funds were not used for
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resource officer training , which comes from a different funding source .
When questioned by school administrators and legislators about the verbiage , the Department of Education took a “ plain text ” interpretation of the act and determined that the federal monies made available by the BSCA could not be used to fund any program that used a deadly weapon , such as the National Archery in the Schools Program , hunter education
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ADOBE STOCK ( 2 ) |