As people who lived in Monroe for more than 50 years, we know firsthand the importance of hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing in this state. As hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers consider which presidential candidate to vote for, here are some facts to consider.
Gun Rights: The top issue for most hunters concerns the Second Amendment right to possess and use firearms for sport hunting and to protect their families. Contrary to claims by the NRA, there is virtually no difference between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain on this critical issue. Obama has said repeatedly that the Second Amendment created an individual's right to possess and use firearms, and that the Supreme Court correctly overturned a ban on guns in the nation's capital. Thus, guns should not be a deciding factor for hunters in this election.
Breaking faith with waterfowl hunters: This spring, the Bush administration proposed a 66 percent increase in the cost of a Duck stamp for waterfowl hunters and requested only $900,000 for new acquisitions for wildlife refuges under the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the smallest requested amount in decades. This shifts the primary means of acquiring wetland and wildlife habitat away from the LWCF and onto the backs of waterfowl hunters. Sen. McCain has not opposed this new burden on waterfowl hunters.
Mothballing national wildlife refuges: Under the Bush Administration, 215 wildlife refuges do not have a single employee on the ground, comprising 40 percent of the entire Refuge System. The seven national wildlife refuges in Wisconsin can only afford 36 full-time employees, only 45 percent of the number actually needed. Sen. McCain has never supported requests for greater funding for the budget starved Wildlife Refuge System.
Candidates for president owe hunters, anglers and bird watchers more than mere lip service on issues like guns. They owe real leadership on enhancing the fish and wildlife habitats that wildlife supporters want to conserve. In the upcoming election, there is only one candidate who will break from the disappointing record of the Bush Administration on fish and wildlife conservation and it is Barack Obama and not John McCain.
Gun Rights: The top issue for most hunters concerns the Second Amendment right to possess and use firearms for sport hunting and to protect their families. Contrary to claims by the NRA, there is virtually no difference between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain on this critical issue. Obama has said repeatedly that the Second Amendment created an individual's right to possess and use firearms, and that the Supreme Court correctly overturned a ban on guns in the nation's capital. Thus, guns should not be a deciding factor for hunters in this election.
Breaking faith with waterfowl hunters: This spring, the Bush administration proposed a 66 percent increase in the cost of a Duck stamp for waterfowl hunters and requested only $900,000 for new acquisitions for wildlife refuges under the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the smallest requested amount in decades. This shifts the primary means of acquiring wetland and wildlife habitat away from the LWCF and onto the backs of waterfowl hunters. Sen. McCain has not opposed this new burden on waterfowl hunters.
Mothballing national wildlife refuges: Under the Bush Administration, 215 wildlife refuges do not have a single employee on the ground, comprising 40 percent of the entire Refuge System. The seven national wildlife refuges in Wisconsin can only afford 36 full-time employees, only 45 percent of the number actually needed. Sen. McCain has never supported requests for greater funding for the budget starved Wildlife Refuge System.
Candidates for president owe hunters, anglers and bird watchers more than mere lip service on issues like guns. They owe real leadership on enhancing the fish and wildlife habitats that wildlife supporters want to conserve. In the upcoming election, there is only one candidate who will break from the disappointing record of the Bush Administration on fish and wildlife conservation and it is Barack Obama and not John McCain.
