This guy stated directly what is wrong with the issues in hunting today, and Agencies, Outdoor and Conservation groups, and political alliances had better wake up. I have read nothing that explains the situation betten than the NRA President's statement. He NAILED IT! KLA, KRA, & KFB, we are coming. QU, DU, NWTF, KDWP, NWTF, NC, are any of you paying attention to the majority here? Read the following. The center and base of the 2nd amendment rights are...GUN HUNTERS! Big surprise! They also pay the bills of almost all Wildlife Agencies and grants to non-profits from fees and taxes on ammo and guns. Take notice all.
By Kayne Robinson, President NRA
If the most vulnerable hunter is forced out by burgeoning costs and red tape, our political base will be gone, because thats where our big numbers are.
Every year a new crop of administrative rules, red tape, raised fees, imposed costs, and land closings are added to last year's crop and piled on the backs of hunters. Seldom are any repealed.
Who is this "vulnerable hunter?" It could be a man or woman, but for the sake of simplicity, I'll use the word "he." He gets a license every year or two. He has an older shotgun or rifle maybe a Mossberg or Savage or Remington. He has a 6-year-old pickup truck. His hunting clothes are not new, but they work fine.
He makes the things we use, he fixes our furnace. He's the only guy at the gas station when we drive in. He's up on the power line in the February sleet, or on the fire truck when we smell smoke. He drives the IS-wheeler, bringing our groceries from afar.
He punches a clock, so once he's at work it's almost impossible to leave and run errands for the game agency. He has very little time with his son or daughter, so a chance to hunt deer or pheasant with his kid is a very big deal.
Laws, administrative rules, enforcement tactics, all affect him differently than the fancier hunter-for example, the wealthy lawyer in a big law firm can easily take off and run errands when government offices are convenient and open. He can get his secretary to fill out the forms. He can hire an outfitter to handle the licenses, permits, and problems. He may even accept red tape as the norm.
The vulnerable hunter may find all of this a big hardship, more expense and exasperation than he can tolerate. So he drops out. And hunting loses an important friend.
Here's the problem: If the most vulnerable hunter is
forced out by burgeoning costs and red tape, our political base will be gone, because that's where our big numbers are. Without huge numbers, hunting will be dead for everybody-rich and poor alike. It will be dead for WalMart, Cabela's, and Bass Pro Shops, for Mossberg as much as for Merkel. And, hunting will be dead for NRA and Safari Club and Ducks Unlimited. It will be dead for the state game agencies, it will be dead for the hundreds of wildlife agents who have good relations with hunters as well as those who are disrespectful.
Unfortunately, some agencies and a few members some hunting specialty organizations say, "Good! If you can't afford fancy equipment, if you won't devote large amounts of time and money, if you aren't a passionate devotee of a special game type, if you don't talk in fancy trophy scoring lingo-if you are offended by aggressive law enforcement tactics when there is no probable cause that you have done anything wrong-then get out! Take up bowling!"
Well, if the most vulnerable hunters do continue to get out, we're all out of
business. As a civil rights organization, NRA defends rights. And, like all civil rights organizations, we have to view rights from the standpoint of the most vulnerable member.
Our emphasis, therefore must be: How does this law, rule, policy, or government action affect the most vulnerable hunters? Sometimes rules, fees, and costs about hunting and game are absolutely vital and clearly needed. Sometimes they are not.
Sometimes the unnecessary laws, rules, and fees are spawned by anti-hunters, sometimes for bureaucratic or law enforcement convenience, or from a paternalistic government agency attitude that says: "We're the boss and we run hunting!"
In the end, the motivation doesn't matter much-what matters is the effect. If a particular law, rule, or regulation freezes out hunters and gun owners for no vital reason, then it must be defeated! When administrative rules, fees, and hunting laws are being considered, who is at the table? Are rules constantly ratcheted up because everybody at the decision table is a booster of the agency? Is there not even one advocate for the most vulnerable hunter?
We desperately need the hunting specialty organizations that have done tremendous work to restore habitat of and game. They should be honored and supported. Many game agencies and agents are completely dedicated to hunting and respectful of hunters. It is just as important that the average hunter not be choked by red tape and driven from the field.
12 American Hunter . September 2003
