FAIRFAX, VA - The folks whose whole collective existence aims to protect America's right to keep and bear arms are more nervous than a white-tailed deer 10 minutes into the opener over this year's presidential elections.
A wrong choice, they say, and the potential appointment of three or more anti-gun Supreme Court justices could result.
The National Rifle Association claims approximately three million members, all of whom presumably share some level of concern over losing certain rights promised by the Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. With the media highlighting the magic of two non-white-male Democratic candidates, one a woman and the other an African-American, the election of a staunchly pro-gun control president presents a real - or is it surreal - possibility.
While both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama claim to support the Second Amendment, NRA spokespersons point out some glaring differences between what they are saying on the campaign trail and their past performance.
The carefully-chosen words of the two candidates, NRA officials claim, are especially suspect regarding Second Amendment rights. For example, the term "gun control" is strictly passé; replaced, they suggest, by an emphasis on "gun safety."
The softer approach tenders a less antagonistic appeal to gun owners and their defenseless neighbors alike. While disingenuous at best, the slant has gained considerable acceptance, including among outdoor writers.
To boot, the Outdoor Writers Association of America offers its members multiple opportunities to hone their craft and connect with publishers and editors at the OWAA annual conference, held this year in Bismarck, N.D. There was a time when the event featured primarily well-known conservationists, successful writers, sportsmen and representatives of supporting organizations - many of them hook-and-bullet types who live and work outdoors.
No longer. Check out the list of presenters for a break out session on the "merits and intrinsic worth of hunting." Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States (arguably America's most powerful anti-hunting group); Bart Semcer of the Sierra Club (an environmental group never known for moderation in its advocacy); and Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
The Brady Campaign marches in lock step with groups like the Americans for Gun Safety, the Center for American Progress and the Third Way. Like these groups, who now share center stage at the OWAA convention, NRA officials expect Ms. Clinton to claim support for Second Amendment rights.
At the same time, the NRA points out, she will also propose new "smart laws" that keep guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals. Not a bad idea, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre says. He argues, however, that enforcement of laws already in place would accomplish the same thing.
Hillary Clinton ran for senator as a staunch anti-gun advocate in New York, where such a position carries great appeal. Along with Rosie O'Donnell and billionaire globalist George Scoros, she helped organize the May 2000 Million Mom March in Washington D.C. to promote "sensible gun laws." This is the same O'Donnell, by the way, who had to admit that her bodyguard packs heat whenever he's on duty.
Barack Obama brings his own anti-gun credentials to the debate. As an Illinois senator, they point out, Obama attempted to ban all forms of commerce in semi-automatic firearms.
Obama also served on the 10-member board of directors of the Joyce Foundation, which the NRA refers to as a "radical anti-gun money machine." According to the NRA, the Foundation serves as the principal source of capital for the Violence Prevention Center.
There is little question, however, who would become the NRA's toughest adversary. While an ability to reach out to people well across the political spectrum has been the hallmark of the Obama campaign, the Clintons have shown an almost pathological instinct to destroy anyone who stands in their way.
To the fair-minded, two against one seems an unfair fight. As we have seen recently, Hillary and her surrogate have mounted a vicious, take-no-prisoners assault on their more well mannered and statesmanlike opponent.
As for the National Rifle Association, the group is up in arms over the prospects and can be expected to assemble all the political firepower it can muster to prevent a second Clinton dynasty. Failure puts it directly into the crosshairs of Hillary's anti-gun sights.
Lowered hunting age back on the agenda
In a December 2006 column, I wrote about several issues left over from the previous legislative agenda that would likely resurface in the New Year. I missed one of them by a year, as supporters of a move to lower the hunting age to eight apparently decided to let the matter rest for a while after it met with strong opposition.
Now, a new proposal is on the books. On Jan. 10, 2008, Representative Scott Gunderson, chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, dropped legislation into the hopper that would allow 10-year-olds to hunt under the immediate supervision of an adult mentor.
In addition to Gunderson, 20 other members of the Assembly have signed on as co-sponsors, including 80th District Rep. Brett Davis.
- Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
A wrong choice, they say, and the potential appointment of three or more anti-gun Supreme Court justices could result.
The National Rifle Association claims approximately three million members, all of whom presumably share some level of concern over losing certain rights promised by the Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. With the media highlighting the magic of two non-white-male Democratic candidates, one a woman and the other an African-American, the election of a staunchly pro-gun control president presents a real - or is it surreal - possibility.
While both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama claim to support the Second Amendment, NRA spokespersons point out some glaring differences between what they are saying on the campaign trail and their past performance.
The carefully-chosen words of the two candidates, NRA officials claim, are especially suspect regarding Second Amendment rights. For example, the term "gun control" is strictly passé; replaced, they suggest, by an emphasis on "gun safety."
The softer approach tenders a less antagonistic appeal to gun owners and their defenseless neighbors alike. While disingenuous at best, the slant has gained considerable acceptance, including among outdoor writers.
To boot, the Outdoor Writers Association of America offers its members multiple opportunities to hone their craft and connect with publishers and editors at the OWAA annual conference, held this year in Bismarck, N.D. There was a time when the event featured primarily well-known conservationists, successful writers, sportsmen and representatives of supporting organizations - many of them hook-and-bullet types who live and work outdoors.
No longer. Check out the list of presenters for a break out session on the "merits and intrinsic worth of hunting." Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States (arguably America's most powerful anti-hunting group); Bart Semcer of the Sierra Club (an environmental group never known for moderation in its advocacy); and Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
The Brady Campaign marches in lock step with groups like the Americans for Gun Safety, the Center for American Progress and the Third Way. Like these groups, who now share center stage at the OWAA convention, NRA officials expect Ms. Clinton to claim support for Second Amendment rights.
At the same time, the NRA points out, she will also propose new "smart laws" that keep guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals. Not a bad idea, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre says. He argues, however, that enforcement of laws already in place would accomplish the same thing.
Hillary Clinton ran for senator as a staunch anti-gun advocate in New York, where such a position carries great appeal. Along with Rosie O'Donnell and billionaire globalist George Scoros, she helped organize the May 2000 Million Mom March in Washington D.C. to promote "sensible gun laws." This is the same O'Donnell, by the way, who had to admit that her bodyguard packs heat whenever he's on duty.
Barack Obama brings his own anti-gun credentials to the debate. As an Illinois senator, they point out, Obama attempted to ban all forms of commerce in semi-automatic firearms.
Obama also served on the 10-member board of directors of the Joyce Foundation, which the NRA refers to as a "radical anti-gun money machine." According to the NRA, the Foundation serves as the principal source of capital for the Violence Prevention Center.
There is little question, however, who would become the NRA's toughest adversary. While an ability to reach out to people well across the political spectrum has been the hallmark of the Obama campaign, the Clintons have shown an almost pathological instinct to destroy anyone who stands in their way.
To the fair-minded, two against one seems an unfair fight. As we have seen recently, Hillary and her surrogate have mounted a vicious, take-no-prisoners assault on their more well mannered and statesmanlike opponent.
As for the National Rifle Association, the group is up in arms over the prospects and can be expected to assemble all the political firepower it can muster to prevent a second Clinton dynasty. Failure puts it directly into the crosshairs of Hillary's anti-gun sights.
Lowered hunting age back on the agenda
In a December 2006 column, I wrote about several issues left over from the previous legislative agenda that would likely resurface in the New Year. I missed one of them by a year, as supporters of a move to lower the hunting age to eight apparently decided to let the matter rest for a while after it met with strong opposition.
Now, a new proposal is on the books. On Jan. 10, 2008, Representative Scott Gunderson, chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, dropped legislation into the hopper that would allow 10-year-olds to hunt under the immediate supervision of an adult mentor.
In addition to Gunderson, 20 other members of the Assembly have signed on as co-sponsors, including 80th District Rep. Brett Davis.
- Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
