SCI actively works in the international arena to protect the freedom to hunt and the carriage of hunting firearms worldwide. Below are just a few examples of areas where SCI is working to increase hunting access and reduce burdens worldwide.

United Nations: The UN has no less than five programs dedicated to limiting the ability to import or transport firearms.  These programs would greatly increase the difficulty of traveling with firearms and could lead to a global gun control treaty. SCI is a registered non-governmental organization with the United Nations working to oppose the UN’s attempt to impose a global gun control treaty. SCI sent representatives to UN meetings to oppose the Arms Trade Treaty and the UN Program of Action on Small Arms.

Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES): CITES regulates trade in protected species of wildlife, including the shipment of hunting trophies. SCI is a leader in CITES and participated in the most recent Conference of the Parties. At the Conference SCI was successful in lobbying to relax the definition of a hunting trophy which will ease the importation of trophies that have been altered in the country where the animal was harvested.  For more information see the SCI-SCIF-CITES blog at http://sci-scif-cites.blogspot.com/.

World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities (WFSA): SCI serves on the Executive Committee of the WFSA and SCI’s participation in WFSA helps magnify SCI’s voice in the international community. The Forum is an educational and scientific association, founded in 1997 by over two dozen existing associations and organizations. WFSA is a pro-active advocacy organization, representing a substantial portion of the sport shooting community, working in concert with international bodies, national governments and regulatory authorities, for the worldwide promotion and preservation of sport shooting activities.

Lead Ammunition (Read about SCI's work on this topic): Currently one of the biggest threats to hunters and sport shooters in Europe is the push to ban or restrict traditional ammunition. WFSA and SCI are continually working to fight this effort in the European Union (EU). The WFSA has recently sponsored two new studies on the effects of lead ammunition and is actively opposing a new EU regulation that could greatly affect the ability of hunters and sport shooters to use traditional hunting ammunition.

Airline Transport: Some of the biggest problems for international hunters are the unnecessary burdens and regulations that impede the transport of firearms and trophies internationally. SCI works with both with airlines and governments to reduce the burdens faced by the traveling hunter.

Trophy Fees: While trophy fees are necessary to insure conservation of our wildlife resources, SCI believes that these fees need to be fair and not raised in ways that would harm the guides and outfitter members of SCI.