[Mantajack]

in reply to: When "friends" turn out to be enemies #48002

David Petersen wrote: These links will make some of us angry, and they should! But we shouldn’t be angry at the reporters and writers who are doing their jobs. We should be angry at the “sportsmen’s” groups, politicians and others who have suckered us all these years. And angry at ourselves for being suckers.

http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/IndustryInfluenceReport.pdf

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/04/nra-wilderness-clayton-williams-energy-oil?google_editors_picks=true

As a long time supporter of our wildlife and hunting and fishing, I was dismayed by this report, but not shocked. I was upset at my colleagues but not angry at their comments. I have heard all the trash talk about my politics. Nothing you can do or say will make me deviate from the path i have chosen to protect wildlife and people from themselves mostly.

I give you a typical conundrum i face almost daily: I love trad bowhunting, but i also love my guns. I do not have a huge collection but i have a few. I teach in an inner city school and i see kids dying from gun fire on a regular basis. Do i want to see my guns taken? NO. How do we prevent kids dying in our schools, or outside of them, because they want to prove their manhood or some other insane reason with a pistol or shotgun? In the many years i have been an NRA member, they never stretched to create a program of gun safety for schools, or come up with a reasonable response to this problem. Their unwavering commitment to 2nd Amendment Rights and their support of conservative wags who denounce Obama as un-American, or as a socialist, or some other inane comment never ceases to amaze me. After eight years of two wars, an imploding economy, the bank crisis, the wall street bailout, and other travesties of America, the NRA would reach out to another Bush in a heartbeat.

Right now, we have a slowly growing economy (the best kind) and at least former lip service to protecting the environment. Does it really surprise you that the SCI and NRA are supporting big gas and oil and have a weak, at best, enthusiasm for wild place, wildlife and the great outdoors? As long as Africa remains a feudal serfdom of the US and big money sportsmen can continue to shoot whatever they pay for, is Africa really safe? SCI will say yes, and bludgeon you with rich folks who demand their sport the way they want it. The NRA will have you shooting in concrete bunkers before they give up their “rights” and if we as Sarah Palin so aptly put it, “Mr. Caribou, it is time you took one for the team.” , keep supporting these anti-wildlife wild spaces whack cases for public office what will you expect?

The case of Donald Sterling is so apropos here. He has an African-American/Mexican girlfriend, who proves he is a racist, while bilking him for millions. He owns an NBA team of almost 78% black players, but doesn’t want blacks in his apt. buildings or at his games. He was given one Lifetime Achievement Award by the NAACP and was due to receive another, but they had to cancel because of his inane, racist statements, but he paid enough money to get one and be in line for another. Sound familiar?

There are tons of gun owners in the US who are not members of the NRA. They don’t want to join because of the conservative, ultra right wing politics the NRA supports with millions of dollars and whack politicians who support them because of their right wing stances on most things outside of guns. Their support of gas and oil expiration is just a tip of the iceberg. As i said previously, if another Bush would be running they would be there in congress with their clout and their money. Outdoorsmen, stop the stupidity. Cut your ties with these groups who do not recognize conservation but only conservatism.

[Mantajack]

in reply to: Congratulations Dave Petersen! #61674

Strait-Aero wrote: Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition,sir! It’s good to know there are groups of people out there with their heads on straight and recognize the efforts of someone so deserving. Kudos, my friend.8)

Dave Peterson is a gem in a world of ordinary stones. He stands by traditional methods, even though he knows he can take more and bigger animals in crowded Colorado. He puts time in the woods over trophies. He personifies good sportsmanship and a good land ethic. He is a descendant of Aldo Leopold. Jack W.

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