The National Rifle Association is heralding President Obama's signing of the annual defense authorization bill because it will block the EPA's effort to ban lead ammo, open the door to letting military personnel carry weapons on base and clear the way for the public sale of vintage military pistols.

"The enactment of these common sense, NRA-backed provisions into law is a result of the American people electing a pro-Second Amendment majority to the United States Congress. On behalf of our members, I want to thank all those lawmakers who stood firmly on the side of freedom, " said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.

The 3 Rs of the National Defense Authorization Act (recently signed into law!) #2A https://t.co/exLeHEVmrg pic.twitter.com/cvBP8SDrbf — NRA-ILA (@NRAILA) November 27, 2015

The key provision of arming military personnel on base came after a deadly base shooting in July and criticism of the policy banning arms on base for all but military police. It calls for the establishment of a process for base commanders to change the policy.

The lead ammunition provision is key to target shooters and hunters. According to the NRA, it would prohibit the EPA from banning traditional and less expansive ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act. "This provision is necessary because extreme anti-hunting groups have filed multiple petitions with the EPA to ban the use of lead ammunition. Those petitions have been rejected, but those groups use the administrative rejections as an excuse to sue the agency in pursuit of the same restrictions," said the NRA in a statement.

And the legislation would allow the Army to transfer its surplus vintage firearms to the Civilian Marksmanship Program for public sale. The NRA said that it costs taxpayers $200,000 a year to store excess M1911A1 pistols in a warehouse.

They would be sold by federally licensed firearms dealers.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.