ThinkingAfield.org

From The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
Friday, February 06, 2009

With President Barack Obama stating that his “urban agenda” includes reimposing the former federal ban on “assault weapons” and “large” magazines, it’s out-of-date to refer to that law as it was known at the time–the Clinton Gun Ban.

On second thought, maybe not just yet.

In January, speaking at a meeting of the anti-gun U.S. Conference of Mayors, former president Bill Clinton took credit for the old ban, praised the Brady Campaign for continuing to lobby Congress for a new ban, and suggested that the mood in Washington might be more favorable toward a ban now than it had been during the last eight years.

Here’s what Mr. Clinton had to say:
“[W]e will not go forward anymore, I don’t think, with the kind of politics of division and destruction that drug us down for too long. That’s essentially what is different, and what creates this great moment of opportunity . . . . to have conversations with people, instead of screaming matches, over things like what former Mayor [now Brady Campaign president Paul] Helmke works on so much—over what is the best way to keep the American people safe. Nobody wants to repeal the Second Amendment, and nobody wants to keep you out of the deer woods, but wouldn’t it be nice if your children didn’t have to worry about being mowed down by an assault weapon when they turn the corner?”

After the mayors’ reflexive applause receded, Clinton continued, this time speaking more broadly than in reference to gun control alone. “[W]e’re now in a position to begin again,” he said. “It’s not a leftward movement. It’s a forward, communitarian movement.” Communitarianism is a movement that considers individualism an impediment to society uniformly adopting values the movement considers appropriate, including authoritarian gun control. For example, the Communitarian Network platform states “there is little sense in gun registration. What we need to significantly enhance public safety is domestic disarmament of the kind that exists in practically all democracies.”

Mr. Clinton did not treat the mayors to a longwinded explanation of the communitarian ideal, nor did he explain that the Brady Campaign no longer advocates merely the reimposition of the Clinton-era ban. Instead, like the Violence Policy Center and Legal Community Against Violence, Brady advocates a much broader federal ban, such as California’s or the one proposed by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), which would ban guns made to comply with the 1994 ban (by omitting one or more attachments, such as a flash suppressor), all semi-automatic shotguns, the Ruger Mini-14, the .30 Carbine, the M1 Garand, and other categories of guns and gun parts not affected by the 1994 ban.

Mr. Clinton also praised President Obama’s selection of Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State, a position in which Mrs. Clinton could lend support to international efforts to impose gun prohibitions domestically. It’s going to be an interesting four years, to say the least.

Deer Management Threatened in Indiana Bill Sets Arbitrary Increase for Deer Harvests
2/6/09

A new Indiana bill increasing the bag limit for deer in thirty counties has substituted politics for scientific wildlife management.

House Bill 1585 was introduced by Representative Bill Friend (R- Macy). The bill politicizes wildlife management by permitting the legislature, not the state wildlife management agency, to have jurisdiction over setting seasons and bag limits.

According to the bill, the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife is mandated to double the seasonal bag limit for deer in each of the thirty counties that experienced the highest number of deer-vehicle collisions as reported by the state police department. The new limits would begin in the 2009 hunting season and continue through the end of the 2011 season.

According to Rick Story, senior vice president of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, “It’s a slippery slope whenever politicians get involved in wildlife management. It is a highly scientific process that should be handled by the responsible agency and not be made a political football.”

Battle lines over wolves are being drawn from Alaska to the Great Lakes.

Animal preservation group, Defenders of Wildlife, has mounted an all out assault on Alaska Governor Sarah Palin over the state’s wolf management program. Meanwhile, the Humane Society of the United States is working to get the Obama Administration to rescind the delisting of several gray wolf populations approved by former President George W. Bush.

On February 2, 2009, Defenders of Wildlife (DoW) unleashed a broadside against former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The group began a website, Eye on Palin, using actress Ashley Judd to criticize Gov. Palin for Alaska’s wolf management plan. Judd said, “I am outraged by Sarah Palin’s promotion of this cruel, unscientific and senseless practice which has no place in modern America.”

Gov. Palin did not sit back and take the abuse, however. On February 3, Palin issued a press release saying, “It is reprehensible and hypocritical that the Defenders of Wildlife would use Alaska and my administration as a fundraising tool to deceive Americans into parting with their hard-earned money.” Palin goes on to defend the state’s wildlife management policies as essential to protecting vulnerable populations of caribou and moose from predators.

The President of DoW’s political wing, Rodger Schlickeisen, issued a statement saying, “Sarah Palin isn’t fading into the background, so neither are we.” The campaign has already made national news with a segment on February 5th’s Today Show.

While Gov. Palin confronts criticism, another fight over wolves is taking place under the radar.
In its last days in office, the Bush Administration announced its intent to again remove gray wolves in the western Great Lakes and northern Rockies from endangered status under the Endangered Species Act. If the decision stands, states in those areas will be allowed to implement their own wolf management plans. However, it is not certain what position the new Obama Administration will take on the issue.

The Humane Society of the United States is pushing the Obama Administration to rescind the rules. A spokesperson for the President has indicated the administration, “will review all 11th-hour regulations.”

In the past, new administrations have rescinded late rule changes they have inherited from their predecessors.

As trailcams are becoming less expensive, more of them are being used as surveillance devices to catch thieves. In Florida a father and son team fall for the techno-trap. See the link below.

http://www.claytoday.biz/content/736_1.php

NEWTOWN, Conn.

Despite a weak economy and slumping retail sales, firearm sales continued to increase in January, continuing an upswing that began after November’s election.

Data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) show background checks on the sale of firearms jumped 28.8 percent in January when compared to January 2008. The increase follows a 24 percent rise in December and a 42 percent jump in November, when a record 1,529,635 background checks were performed.

FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing firearms from federally licensed retailers. These checks serve as a strong indicator of actual sales.

“Since the election, sales of firearms — in particular handguns and semi-automatic hunting and target rifles — are fast outpacing inventory,” said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry. “Americans are clearly concerned about their ability to be able to purchase these products in an uncertain future.”

NICS reported 1,213,885 checks in January, up from 942,556 in the same month a year ago. Last year, a total of 12,709,023 background checks were reported, up 14 percent from 2007.
NSSF, founded in 1961, is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition and recreational shooting sports industry. It promotes the safe ownership and responsible use of products its members make and sell. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

While O’Bama has hit the ground running, many praise him. He and his sheeple are so energetic, as they race to the edge of the cliff never having known that now is the time to check the brakes. Find out what Ted Nugent has to say about the country’s direction at the link below.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30513

Authorities were able to locate a disoriented hunter who was able to call for help on his cell phone. What they found when they found him got him a chauffered ride downtown.

Cheboygan Daily Tribune

From The National Rifle Association

As we reported last week, legislation to require a federal license to possess any detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifle or shotgun, or any handgun, has been introduced in Congress. Bills to re-impose the federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine ban, or to impose a much broader ban, have been introduced in Congress since 2003, and will likely be introduced in the current Congress soon. Already, the deliberate deceptions we heard from anti-gunners previously are resurfacing. Anti-gun Sen. Carl Levin, (D-Mich.), said Thursday on the floor of the Senate that “assault weapons” are “capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute” and that they are “once again pervading our streets and neighborhoods.”

Did we mention that our opponents are deliberately deceptive?

ACCOKEEK, Md., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ —

Beretta U.S.A. Corp. recently announced its receipt of a U.S. Army contract to provide up to 450,000 Beretta Model 92FS pistols to U.S. military customers throughout the world. The total value of the contract, if all pistol quantities and associated spare parts are ordered, is $220 million.
The contract was awarded along with a first delivery order for 20,000 pistols intended for the Iraqi military. Delivery of pistols against the contract has already begun.

“We are honored to see the quality and performance of the Beretta Model 92FS pistol continue to be acknowledged in this dramatic way,” commented Cav. Ugo Gussalli Beretta, President of Beretta U.S.A. “It is clear that the Beretta 9mm pistol still sets the standard for military users throughout the world.”

“This contract will help ensure jobs for hundreds of U.S. workers in the Beretta U.S.A. factory in Maryland for years to come,” added Jeff Reh, General Counsel and Vice-General Manager for Beretta U.S.A. “Beretta U.S.A. was awarded the contract to provide the Beretta 9mm Model 92FS pistol as the standard sidearm for the U.S. Armed Forces back in 1985 and we have continued to do so on a constant basis ever since. About three years ago, Beretta U.S.A. received 13 separate contracts to provide Beretta 9mm pistols and associated spare parts to the U.S. Armed Forces. This new, larger contract will continue our efforts by supporting foreign military customers of the U.S. around the world.”

For more information on the Beretta 92FS model, visit http://www.beretta92.com.

Founded in 1977, Beretta U.S.A. currently employs about 300 employees in its production facility in Accokeek, Maryland and in its warehouse in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Beretta U.S.A. also operates two Beretta retail stores in the United States, one located at 718 Madison Avenue in New York City and the other found in the Highland Park Shopping Center in Dallas, Texas. Beretta U.S.A. imports and distributes firearms, clothing and accessories produced by the Beretta company in Italy as well as Sako and Tikka rifles manufactured by the Sako company in Finland. Beretta U.S.A. manufactures pistols and shotguns at its facility in Maryland, as well as clothing and accessories for shooting sports enthusiasts.

Beretta U.S.A. is part of the Beretta Holding group of companies, which includes Burris Optics in Colorado, Steiner International Optics located in Germany, and the firearm manufacturers Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, Uberti, Sako and Tikka.

Contact:
Jeffrey Reh
jreh@berettausa.com
301-283-2191 x1223

When Democrats speak of bipartisanship, it’s good as long as Republicans come over to their liberal way of thinking. It seems that unifying Republicans and Democrats is positive, as long as conservatives cave.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01232009/news/politics/prez_zings_gop_foe_in_a_timulating_talk_151572.htm