Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Birchwood Casey® has added three new targets to the Ground Strike™ line for 2014. Ground Strike Targets from Birchwood Casey are constructed of a durable self-healing material that will withstand hundreds of shots while still maintaining their original shape. Read more
Morgan Utah: New for 2014, Browning has expanded the Citori 725 line of over and under shotguns by adding new Trap and Skeet models in 12 gauge.
Both Trap and Skeet versions of the Citori 725 will be available in standard stock and adjustable comb models. Like other Citori 725 models, the Trap and Skeet models include the Fire Lite Mechanical Trigger System and full-width hinge pin and tapered locking bolt receiver design. Read more
NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA – Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world’s leading manufacturer in high performance sports optics, is pleased to announce its 2014 ZEISS FIELD DAYS promotion. From August 1 through August 31, 2014, Zeiss is offering huge savings in the way of an instant rebate on many of its most popular optics. Simply purchase any of the following ZEISS products from an authorized ZEISS dealer during the promotional period and get an instant rebate at checkout. Instant rebates are as follows:
– $150 rebate on any VICTORY HT Riflescopes or VICTORY HT Binoculars
– $100 rebate on any CONQUEST HD5 Riflescopes or CONQUEST HD Binoculars
– $50 rebate on any TERRA 3X Riflescopes or TERRA ED Binoculars Read more
Levels of scrutiny is a legal term that describes the various standards a law must survive in order to be ruled Constitutional. On Saturday, Senior Judge Fredrick J. Scullen, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the District of Columbia’s ban on carrying of handguns outside the home didn’t stand up to a constitutional test “under any level of scrutiny.”
Scullin’s ruling sets aside the longstanding argument by anti-gun groups that the right to keep and bear arms applies only inside one’s home. While pro-gun advocates are celebrating the ruling, legal experts say the carrying of handguns for self-defense can still be regulated, although the limitations have yet to be established.
At the same time, they agree prohibitive “discretionary issue” laws like those in Maryland, New Jersey and New York, may be in trouble. Groups, including the Second Amendment Foundation, say they have been studying Senior Judge Scullen’s ruling over the weekend and will issue a formal statement later today.
Last month, while addressing a group of Colorado sheriffs, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper spoke on the topic of the state’s 2013 measure outlawing almost all private transfers of firearms. According to the Denver Post, Hickenlooper told the sheriffs, “I think we screwed that up completely… we were forming legislation without basic facts.” A new Associated Press report examining Colorado background check data in the first year of the new law proves the accuracy of Hickenlooper’s statement, and should (although likely won’t) end the repetition of an already discredited anti-gun background check factoid.
The report states that the Colorado Legislative Council, an offshoot of the state legislature that is tasked with analyzing legislation, estimated that 420,000 additional background checks would be conducted in the two years following the new private sale restrictions. This led the Colorado legislature to allocate $3 million to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to handle the anticipated increase.
However, the AP notes, “officials have performed only about 13,600 reviews considered a result of the new law — about 7 percent of the estimated first year total.” The article goes on to state, “In total, there were about 311,000 background checks done during the first year of the expansion in Colorado, meaning the 13,600 checks between private sellers made up about 4 percent of the state total.” Read more
The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that fall turkey hunting applications are on sale until Friday, Aug. 1. The application fee is $5. Applications and licenses may be purchased at any authorized license agent or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com. Read more
“There’s a sign on the door that says you have to check your weapons at the front,” she said. “But you can’t expect every crazy person to do that.” But when a “troubled” patient opened fire on people at a hospital office, he wound up with some different troubles. More here…
Citizen Initiative Garnered Almost 300,000 Signatures from Registered Michigan Voters
LANSING—The Michigan Board of State Canvassers has certified the Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management (CPWM) petitions for a citizen initiative to allow the Natural Resources Commission to make science-based decisions on fish and wildlife conservation issues, including naming game species and issuing fisheries orders.
The Secretary of State Bureau of Elections staff report estimated that the pro-hunting group turned in at least 297,051 valid signatures of registered Michigan voters in support of the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, which also creates a $1 million rapid response fund to protect fisheries from invasive species like Asian carp, and allows active military members to hunt and fish for free.
“We’re excited that so many registered Michigan voters directly petitioned their elected representatives under the Michigan Constitution to protect their outdoor heritage by making sure we make fish and wildlife conservation decisions with sound science,” said Matt Evans, legislative affairs manager for Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “Almost 300,000 registered voters have asked their legislators to pass this law, and I sincerely hope they listen to their constituents.”
The citizen initiative is now before the Legislature, which will have 40 days to pass the initiative. Both chambers are expected to meet on August 13, which would be within the 40-day timeframe.
The citizen initiative would render moot two referendums pushed by out-of-state anti-hunting and animal rights organizations that are trying to ban wolf hunting, despite biologists’ recommendations, by stripping the ability of the Natural Resources Commission to name game species using biologists’ recommendations. Read more
(Columbus, Ohio) – Sportsmen, conservation organizations and outdoor personalities met at the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) headquarters yesterday to develop strategies to counter the recent increase in cyber-attacks on hunters.
The group makes up the Hunter Advancement Task Force with most members sharing a common theme of having been targeted by animal rights activists through social media.
“This is a great opportunity to start developing ways to hold those responsible for the recent wave of cyber-attacks against sportsmen accountable,” said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA president and CEO. “The task force is not only working to stop direct attacks on hunters but also discussing how best to educate the public on the vital role sportsmen play in the conservation of all wildlife.”
Attendees included outdoor television personalities Melissa Bachman and Jana Waller, Colorado hunter Charisa Argys along with her father Mark Jimerson, Doug Saunders of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Bill Dunn of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, John Jackson of Conservation Force, Dennis Foster of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, Tony Schoonan of the Boone and Crockett Club and Mark Holyoak of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Other attendees included USSA President and CEO, Nick Pinizzotto, Evan Heusinkveld, USSA vice president of government affairs, Bill Horn, USSA director of federal affairs, Michelle Scheuermann of Bullet Proof Communications and author Michael Sabbeth.
Bachman, a television producer and host, found her life and career threatened after posting a photo of an African lion she harvested to her Facebook page last year. Almost immediately, Bachman came under attack from anti-hunters around the world. Bachman also found herself the target of death threats that “hit way too close for comfort” when anti-hunters showed up at her office.
“Regardless of your beliefs about hunting, Americans can all agree that threatening someone’s life is simply unacceptable.” said Bachman. Read more
The new Scent-A-Way® MAX Scent Control Kits from Hunter’s Specialties® contain everything a hunter needs to help control human scent on both their body and clothing for a more successful hunt.
Scent-A-Way MAX features activated odor scrubbers that aggressively attract and attack bacterial odors generated by humans, neutralizing a wide range of environmental odors for quicker, stronger, longer MAXimum protection. Scent-A-Way MAX Scent Control Kits contain Scent-A-Way bar soap and anti-perspirant, a 12 oz. bottle of Scent-A-Way liquid laundry detergent, 15-count pack of Scent-A-Way dryer sheets and 44 oz. of the new Scent-A-Way MAX spray.
Scent-A-Way MAX Scent Control Kits are available at an MSRP of $34.99 in both Odorless and Fresh Earth Scent. Consumers who purchase Scent-A-Way MAX Scent Control Kits are eligible to receive a $5.00 mail-in rebate now through 1/31/15. For details, log onto the Hunter’s Specialties website at www.hunterspec.com. Read more