The Forest Service paid $6.1 million in legal fees to groups that sued it over a six-year period, according to an academic study that casts new light on a politically charged issue. 

The flagrant abuse of the system is being curtailed but only after Republicans seized power.  More here…

$40 billion transnational criminal enterprises don’t fill out paperwork and are not deterred by paperwork violations.  This is a blatant effort by the Obama administration and ATF to divert focus of Congress and the general public from their gross incompetence in the Fast and Furious scandal.  This scheme will unjustly burden law-abiding retailers in border states.  It will not affect drug cartels and and it won’t prevent violence along our borders.   ATF and the Administration lacks the statutory authority to do this and the NRA will file suit as soon as ATF sends the first demand letters.

-Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA-ILA

Late today the Deptartment of Justice issued a press release announcing that it would begin its controversial proposal of requiring dealers in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico to file multiple sales reports on the sale of certain rifles. NSSF opposes this new record-keeping requirement because ATF lacks the legal authority under the Gun Control Act to require it and, just as importantly, because it will actually make it more difficult for dealers to cooperate with ATF. This announcement comes while DOJ and ATF are being investigated for encouraging dealers to sell firearms to straw purchasers and then purposely allowing as many as 2,500 firearms to cross into Mexico. Sen. Grassley and Rep. Issa were highly critical of today’s decision, with Rep. Issa saying in a statement, “In Operation Fast and Furious, gun dealers didn’t need this regulation as they voluntarily provided ATF agents with information about suspected straw purchasers. In return for this voluntary cooperation, the Justice Department betrayed them by offering false assurances that they would closely monitor sales of weapons that dealers otherwise did not want to make.”

By Glen Wunderlich

At long last, this year’s healthy crop of mosquitos has dwindled to the point that at least for the time being, they are not as bothersome as they were immediately following our spring rains.  And, black flies have fizzled out, too.  But, there’s another vicious flying insect that emerges each summer that tops them all in the biting department:  the deer fly.

I recall my first encounter with the tormenters, Read more

The Humane Society of the United States offered a $5,000 grant to the local humane society in Columbus, Nebraska and the local society turned it down for fear of offending … just about everyone.

Critics have condemned the HSUS for pushing a variety of programs and legislation aimed at regulating some elements of animal agriculture, most especially involving the containment and other treatment of animals.  More here…