Michigan: Youth Hunting Bill Passes Michigan House

On May 24, House Bill 4371 passed in the Michigan House by an 85 to 23 vote and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.
 
Introduced by state Representative Peter Pettalia (R-106), HB 4371 would establish a mentored youth hunting program allowing parents to determine at which age their kids are ready to hunt. Current Michigan law requires a child to be at least ten years of age to get a hunting license and twelve years of age if it involves hunting deer with a firearm. HB 4371 would eliminate those restrictions and allow a child to experience hunting at an earlier age with a mentor.
 
Since the Families Afield efforts were set forth in 2005 on a nationwide campaign, there have been approximately 600,000 hunters safely added to the field.  In fact, studies have shown that mentored hunters are one of the safest groups in the field.  Michigan ranks last in the nation when it comes to the recruitment and retention of hunters and HB 4371 could improve Michigan’s last-in-the-nation hunter recruitment and retention rate.  HB 4371 is modeled after a similar Pennsylvania law that has succeeded in getting many youth involved in hunting with a mentor while learning proper safety and ethics at a young age – a try-before-you-buy approach.
 
Please contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support HB 4371. Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.

Extremists Thrown off the Gravy Train

By Glen Wunderlich

The gravy train is running off the tracks and you’ll be able hear the moaning of animal rightists and environmental extremists from Washington to Whackoville, as a substantial source of their income becomes extinct.  Legislation being introduced in Congress is to effectively eliminate taxpayer-funded abuse of a system meant to help wildlife conservation.  The legislation, a House Resolution and companion version in the Senate titled Government Litigation Savings Act, is to amend the existing Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). 

First a refresher course is in order.  Congress designed the EAJA as a vehicle for individuals, small businesses or public interest organizations to have a voice against unreasonable government actions threatening their rights, privileges, or interests.  To sweeten the rewards for successful campaigns against government entities, such as the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management, these “cash-poor” organizations – that is, those for-profit corporations worth less than $7 million – are able to recoup legal fees, if they fight and win. 

However, non-profit groups such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) – although they generate more than $100 million annually – are exempt because of their non-profit standing, and therefore, are able to pocket huge sums of taxpayers’ cash at the rate of $150 to $350 per hour for attorney fees charged to us taxpayers.  Their strategy is simple:  Overwhelm the system with hundreds of lawsuits, wait for the government to lose cases on technicalities, such as missing deadlines, and pick the pockets of taxpayers.

You want transparency?  Forget it!  Read more

Internet bragging leads to felony poaching arrest

 

A convicted felon who posted pictures about his poaching exploits on Facebook got the attention of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Internet Crimes Unit. As a result, the Polk County man faces seven felony charges and six misdemeanor charges related to his illegal activities.

An FWC investigation into Facebook posts by 43-year-old Darin Lee Waldo, of 619 West North Blvd., Davenport, found that he and friends were poaching game on Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Polk County during closed season. Waldo is a convicted felon who cannot legally possess firearms. Read more

Hero Fired for Stopping Crime

The police described it as an armed robbery and a hostage situation. Before dawn on Sunday, May, 8th, two robbers stormed into a Walgreens store wearing masks and gloves and carrying guns. Video cameras in the store on Napier Avenue in Benton Township, Michigan captured the whole event. Fortunately, though, Jeremy Hoven, a pharmacist and one of the employees in the store, had a permitted concealed handgun with him. Unfortunately, Walgreens fired Hoven for having a gun at workMore here

NJ Judge Issues Permit To Plaintiff In SAF Lawsuit

BELLEVUE, WA – A New Jersey judge announced Thursday that he will issue a gun permit to one of the plaintiffs in a Second Amendment Foundation lawsuit against several New Jersey officials for deprivation of civil rights under color of law, because applicants cannot show a “justifiable need” for a permit. Read more

Ruger to Donate up to $1 Million to NRA

 

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR), is proud to announce the “Million Gun Challenge” to benefit the NRA. Ruger pledges to donate $1,000,000 to the NRA if one million new Ruger firearms are sold between the 2011 and 2012 NRA Shows.

“Our goal is to present the NRA with a check for one million dollars during the 141st NRA Annual Meeting in St. Louis next April,” said Ruger CEO Mike Fifer. “This substantial donation would reflect a record-breaking feat in the firearms industry, as we believe no company has every sold one million firearms in a 12-month period. With the help of our loyal customers, we hope to make history and to share that accomplishment with the NRA.”

To learn more about Ruger’s extensive line of American-made pistols, rifles, revolvers and shotguns, and to follow the progress of the “Million Gun Challenge,” visit www.Ruger.com or Facebook.com/Ruger.

Historic Starting Pistol Confiscated in England

A HISTORIC race in Bampton will go off with less of a bang this year after police confiscated the starting pistol.

The Original Great Shirt Race is run between the village’s pubs and is believed to date back centuries.

Traditionally, it was always started by firing a 12-bore shotgun into the air, but police stopped that practice in 2000.

The shotgun was replaced with a starting pistol but now Government legislation means this year’s event will start with an airhorn.

The pistol was confiscated from race starter John Buckingham over concerns it could be converted into a lethal weapon.

Last Chance to Win $19,000 worth

The 2011 52 Gun Raffle sponsored by Vance Outdoors, Inc. is about to begin! You could win a Benelli Super Black Eagle, an Ithaca Featherlight and even great bows from Parker, TenPoint, Barnett and Horton in the 2011, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance’s 52 Gun Raffle.
Beginning June 6th, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance will give a gun or bow away each week for 52 weeks for a total value of over $19,000! Tickets are going fast, so enter today or you could be shut out of 52 chances to win a great gun or bow!
Here’s how it works:
There are only 1,000 tickets sold with each ticket having a unique three digit number (000-999). Each Monday evening at 7:29 p.m. est., the Ohio Lottery’s Pick 3 drawing is announced. If your ticket matches that week’s numbers, you win that gun or bow. Even better, there is no limit to how many times you can win. So order your tickets today before someone else gets your lucky number!
Enter today!
This is the last call for ticket buyers before the drawing starts. Each ticket is $50, which is less than $1 a week and you can buy as many as you want.  You can enter online at www.ussportsmen.org/52gun  If you do not live in Ohio, you MUST purchase your ticket online.
All proceeds benefit the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, which protects your rights to hunt, fish and trap. Pass the flyers out to your friends and family and do your part to protect our outdoor heritage and win great prizes. Order your tickets today!
(Out of state participants must purchase tickets via the USSA website.  Void where prohibited by law.)

NRA Continues Fight in Wolf Delisting Challenge

The National Rifle Association and Safari Club International (SCI) have filed for intervenor status in a new challenge to the wolf delisting contained in the continuing resolution FY 2011 by the Alliance for the Rocky Mountains. Anti-hunting groups filed two new court cases on May 5th challenging the constitutionality of the recently passed law that directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the wolves of Montana, Idaho and portions of Oregon, Utah and Washington State.

“Anti-hunting and animal rights extremists seek to incrementally destroy America’s hunting heritage,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “The NRA and SCI’s filing for intervenor status seeks to ensure that American hunters and their interests are represented in this case, as we continue to fight for the complete delisting of gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act.”

Moose, elk and mule deer populations have been decimated in some areas where wolves are prevalent. Wildlife experts and biologists contend that regulated hunting of wolves is best method to preserve the balance of nature and ensure the future of a healthy game population for continued hunting opportunities. However, after successful wolf hunting seasons were conducted in Idaho and Montana last year, anti-hunting extremists obstructed future seasons by challenging them in court.

“It is time for sound science and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to govern the reintroduction of the wolf population. The NRA will continue to fight for the delisting and state-based management of gray wolves, whether in Congress or the courts,” concluded Cox.

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