ThinkingAfield.org

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Groundhog Day has come and gone, as has another reason to party in Punxsutawney. It almost makes me want to cry. Almost. But, what really bothers me is the way ol’ Phil is treated. I mean just how humane is it to drag him from his burrow and parade him in front of the world demanding he predict the weather. And, a six-week prognostication, at that. I can understand why he’s so popular; heck, our best meteorologists only go out on a limb with 7-day predictions, and usually by the end of the given timeframe, a little revision is in order.

But, not Phil. He never takes anything back. He uses no computer models, no weathervanes, and no almanacs. No wonder he’s so popular!

But, at least one among us – and, my guess is just one – wants one of her own for purely selfish interests. Ms. Debra Firmani, writing for the United States Humane Society’s (HSUS) website puts it this way: “For me, it’s not about their annual weather-prediction gig—I just think they’re wonderful animals to watch. For some reason, though, my wildlife-friendly yard—endorsed by countless birds and squirrels—has attracted no groundhogs. Not far away, I often see them foraging along roadsides and trails. But these fleeting glimpses are not enough. I still dream of the day when a groundhog will explore my yard, judge it burrow-worthy, and start digging.”

There must be some way we can help. I don’t suppose those folks in Pennsylvania would ever give up Phil. Besides, why waste the talents of one so illustrious and clever, when any ol’ hay hog – excuse me, woodchuck – will do.

Notwithstanding Phil’s skills, we may have missed a fantastic opportunity with the recent passing of Groundhog Day. But, could you have imagined the ruckus if someone had snatched ol’ Phil away from the circus. (Sorry. I think that’s a bad word.) Such a slithering scoundrel undoubtedly would go to the top of the most wanted list – yes, even ahead of Bin Laden.

Is there a hay farmer out there that wouldn’t allow Ms. Firmani an opportunity to help herself to a few of yours? Hey, I’ll spring (get it?) for a live trap, as long as I get it back after relocation is complete. Now, we must be careful here because HSUS warns on its website that timing is everything: “Before attempting to evict and exclude woodchucks, consider that breeding female woodchucks have dependent young in their burrows from late winter until spring or early summer, and evicting them during this time can be inhumane.”

Now, I’m thinking snatching them from their home at any time might be inhumane, but what would a cold-blooded killer like me know about such things. Wait a minute. We go after the female that’s already bred! That’s it!

Look, Ms. Firmani could hit the jackpot with only one snatch-and-grab. Sure momma ‘chuck might complain a bit, but the rest of the soon-to-be family would never know the difference. Now, if the HSUS will volunteer one of its many animal-friendly weasels to tunnel in with a pregnancy test…

On February 22 the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will host a national event called “Spay Day” to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. It’s a great idea, of course, but HSUS can and should do much more.

Spay Day used to be run by the Doris Day Animal League, which spent its own money to promote spaying and neutering. Now, with HSUS in charge, the event is essentially a fundraiser: Americans are being asked to donate a minimum of $5-and, of course, they will be asked for more money later.

HSUS typically shares less than 1 percent of its income with hands-on pet shelters-the facilities that actually spay and neuter dogs and cats. And it has a staggering $191 million in assets. That’s enough money to spay or neuter every unsterilized dog in America.

If you want to actually make a “Spay Day” difference, make a visit to your local humane society or another pet shelter in your community. Donate your money, your time, and your helping hands. The animals will thank you, and your mailbox won’t be overflowing with junk mail from HSUS.

David Martosko

Director of Research, Center for Consumer Freedom

Washington DC

Friday, February 04, 2011

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to respond to allegations that it allowed suspicious firearm transactions to proceed, and that a gun sold in one of those cases may have been involved in a shootout that claimed the life of a Border Patrol agent.

In a letter to the bureau, Sen. Grassley criticizes the agency’s conduct of its southwest border program known as Project Gunrunner, saying, “There are serious concerns that the ATF may have become careless, if not negligent, in implementing the Gunrunner strategy.” In a follow-up letter, Sen. Grassley questions whether bureau officials tried to silence an internal whistleblower who brought the issue to the attention of congressional staff.

The BATFE has routinely asked for cooperation from gun dealers to identify suspicious gun purchases. Just as routinely, dealers contact the bureau when they suspect straw purchases are occurring. The allegation now is that the BATFE has instructed dealers to complete those sales and report descriptions of the buyers, but that the agency then failed to prevent those firearms from being smuggled to Mexico.

If true, the allegations cast grave doubt on the value of the bureau’s new proposal for multiple sales reporting. In December, the BATFE asked the White House to approve a requirement that licensed gun dealers in the border states report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles larger than .22 caliber that have a detachable magazine, much as dealers now report multiple sales of handguns. The agency claims the move is needed to assist in the efforts to stop gun running into Mexico.

This initiative has met bipartisan opposition in Congress and — although requested on an “emergency” basis — has yet to win approval from the White House. The NRA strongly opposes the implementation of the new regulation as it clearly falls outside the range of powers granted by Congress.

The question raised by the new allegations is this: If the BATFE cannot follow up effectively on real-time reports of suspicious sales, how can it possibly make effective use of a flood of new multiple sales reports?

The new charges against the BATFE have already drawn attention from the national media. Stay tuned here for new developments.

GW: This was copied – word for word – from Democrat Senator Feinstein’s website…

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein urged President Obama to prohibit the importation of military-style assault firearms that contribute to violence in the United States and Mexico.

Following is the text of the letter from Senator Feinstein to President Obama:

January 31, 2011

The Honorable Barack H. Obama
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I write to urge you to review enforcement of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) provision, 18 U.S. Code Section 925(d)(3), which prohibits the importation of firearms except those that are “generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.” Previous Administrations have used this authority to limit the importation of military-style assault firearms, and it could once again be a helpful tool in preventing the gun trafficking that is fueling the horrific gun violence in Mexico, the Southwest border region, and many cities and towns across our nation.

Since December 2006, more than 30,000 people have been killed in Mexico in drug-related violence. Every day, there are reports of ruthless and brutal gun murders as Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) fight for control of smuggling routes and terrorize anyone who might get in their way. The DTOs have killed mayors, judges, and other officials who have tried to stop the carnage. They have even targeted young people, murdering 14 teenagers at a birthday party in Ciudad Juarez in October of last year.

Regrettably, firearms trafficked from the United States help fuel the violence in Mexico. Of the firearms recovered by the Government of Mexico and traced through ATF in the past 4 years, more than 50,000 were manufactured in, or imported into, the United States prior to being recovered in Mexico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other federal, state and local law enforcement are working to stop this gun trafficking and related violence, but they need additional help. The Administration recently took an important step forward with ATF’s initiative to collect information on multiple sales of semi-automatic assault rifles from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. I applaud you for this initiative. However, much more must be done.

Under the GCA, the Administration has the authority to prohibit the importation of non-sporting firearms. In 1989, in response to growing drug gang violence, the ATF under President George H.W. Bush denied applications to import a series of semiautomatic rifles that it found were designed and intended to be particularly suitable for combat rather than sporting applications. Similarly, in 1997, President Clinton used this authority and ordered ATF to conduct an expedited review to determine whether modified semiautomatic assault-type rifles were properly importable under the statutory sporting purposes test. In April 1998, ATF determined that rifles with the ability to accept a detachable large capacity military magazine “are not generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes and are therefore not importable.”

Since the Clinton Administration’s efforts, the GCA’s prohibition against non-sporting firearms has not been aggressively enforced, and many military-style, non-sporting rifles have flowed into the United States civilian market. Some of the rifles are cheap AK-type variants from former Eastern bloc countries, while others are more expensive, high-tech weapons. All of them, however, share military-style characteristics that should make them ineligible for import. Furthermore, it appears that some importers are bringing in rifle parts and reassembling them with a small number of domestically manufactured components. This practice has gone unchecked, despite Section 922 (r) of the GCA, which prohibits using imported parts to assemble any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation under 18 U.S. Code Section 925(d)(3).

I urge you to review enforcement of the GCA and take any regulatory steps necessary to stop the both the importation of all military-style, non-sporting firearms, and the assembly of those firearms from imported parts. We must ensure that law enforcement has all the necessary resources and tools needed to stop the gun violence that is taking a deadly toll in Mexico and in our country. I look forward to working with you toward that goal. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein
Chairman
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control

cc: Eric Holder, Attorney General
Kenneth Melson, Acting Director of the ATF

State Senator R.C. Soles (D – NC) Long time Anti-Gun Advocate State Senator R.C. Soles, 74, shot one of two intruders at his home just outside Tabor City , N.C. about 5 p.m. Sunday, the prosecutor for the politician’s home county said.
The intruder, Kyle Blackburn, was taken to a South Carolina hospital, but the injuries were not reported to be life-threatening, according to Rex Gore, district attorney for Columbus, Bladen andBrunswick counties.

The State Bureau of Investigation and Columbus County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the shooting, Gore said. Soles, who was not arrested,declined to discuss the incident Sunday evening.

“I am not in a position to talk to you,” Soles said by telephone. “I’m right in the middle of an investigation.”

The Senator, who has made a career of being against gun ownership for the general public, didn’t hesitate to defend himself with his own gun when he believed he was in immediate danger and he was the victim.

In typical hypocritical liberal fashion, the “Do as i say and not as i do” Anti-Gun Activist Lawmaker picked up his gun and took action in what apparently was a self-defense shooting. Why hypocritical you may ask? It is because his long legislative record shows that the actions that he took to protect his family, his own response to a dangerous life threatening situation, are actions that he feels ordinary citizens should not have if they were faced with an identical situation.
It has prompted some to ask if the Senator believes his life and personal safety is more valuable than yours or mine.

But, this is to be expected from those who believe they can run our lives, raise our kids, and protect our families better than we can.

Interesting little story here.
Please send this to your friends, senators and congressmen! We do not need double standards in this country!

Posted by Paula Tyler on December 13, 2010 at 8:38pm in Tennessee SGP

MISSOULA, Mont.-New data reveal a massive one-year decline in elk populations at ground zero of wolf restoration-Yellowstone-and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is renewing its call for Congress to delist wolves legislatively.

Reports also indicate that moose in the Yellowstone region are nearly nonexistent, adding even more urgency to the RMEF call for Congressional action.

RMEF President and CEO David Allen says two bills in Congress, a House version (H.R. 509) and a new Senate version (S. 249), hold the best promise. RMEF is asking lawmakers to remove unnecessary federal protections on burgeoning wolf populations and grant science-based wolf management authority to the states.

“Both bills would end the ridiculous lawsuits that are preventing a fully recovered species from being managed by conservation professionals,” said Allen. “And both bills would end the profiteering and abuses of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by environmental and animal rights activists who need a wolf controversy in order to protect their revenue streams.”

Allen said RMEF is asking its members and other conservationists to call their elected representatives and urge support of the House and Senate bills.

“All one has to do is look at the continued games being played with ESA rules by folks like Defenders of Wildlife, because that will make our case for us as to why delisting by Congress is warranted,” he added.

New data show the northern Yellowstone elk herd has declined from some 18,000 animals in the mid-1990s to just 4,400 today-a 75 percent decrease. Biologists estimate the herd has plummeted 24 percent in just the past year alone.

Other big game herds in wolf-inhabited areas of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming also are declining rapidly.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres-a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved atwww.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Saint Paul, Minn. – February 3, 2011 – Pheasants Forever has received a $1.27 million pledge from Larry and Brenda Potterfield, founders of MidwayUSA, to launch its FOREVER Shooting Sports Program. The funding will help Pheasants Forever achieve its goal of developing a sustainable, comprehensive shooting sports program with its chapters and partners.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s FOREVER Shooting Sports Program will utilize research-based recruitment and retention strategies to introduce up to 20,000 individuals annually to shooting sports through a variety of community based programs and events over the next five years. The program is off and running thanks to the first donation from the Potterfields for $250,000. Dick Leeper, Executive Director of the Midway USA Foundation, presented the check to Pheasants Forever at the organization’s National Pheasant Fest event this past weekend.

“This generous donation from the Potterfields is a direct reflection of the great work Pheasants Forever members, chapters, partners and staff are doing with our No Child Left Indoors® initiative,” said Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National President and CEO, “We view the FOREVER Shooting Sports Program as a gateway to the outdoors, and a gateway to the world of wildlife habitat conservation.”

“Brenda and I, along with the rest of the folks at MidwayUSA, strongly believe in Pheasants Forever’s habitat mission,” said Larry Potterfield, “We’ve always believed in giving back to conservation organizations. We’re proud to factor in the creation of the FOREVER Shooting Sports Program and look forward to years of great shots and even greater conservationists.”

Models for successful shooting sports programs already exist within Pheasants Forever’s ranks. For example, Pheasants Forever Young Guns is the shooting sports program for the Illinois Pioneer Pheasants Forever chapter. This youth led program offers 12 shooting events per year to novice shooters of all ages and gender, and has grown from 33 to 450 shooters in just 3 years. The fact that youth help plan and facilitate Young Guns shooting events has helped recruit additional youth members, and it also helps them develop the leadership skills they will need as future Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever volunteer conservationists. Through the FOREVER Shooting Sports Program, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever plan to develop up to 10 such “Young Guns” programs annually.

Pheasants Forever also plans to make ammunition and incentive grants available to all 700-plus Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters across the country as part of its FOREVER Shooting Sports Program.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters hold more than 500 youth events annually. For more information, contact Rich Wissink, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever National Youth Programs Specialist, at (715) 722-0286 / Email Rich.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

GW: OK, It’s not your $50 red dot sight, but it will work in low light, whereas the cheap red dots never do. And, that’s when “prime time” happens.

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Leupold’s® long history of optics innovation for hunting continues with the new illuminated FireDot™ Reticle System, now available exclusively in VX-R™ riflescopes.

The system includes five different reticle choices: FireDot Duplex, Ballistic FireDot, FireDot Circle, FireDot 4 and the FireDot Pig Plex. A fiber optic light pipe with a meticulously cut and polished tip provides an illuminated dot, which can be easily seen in bright light, yet is not overpowering in low- light conditions. Once activated, the dot illuminates with bright, sharp definition, while the rest of the reticle remains non-illuminated. This combination leads the eye naturally to the center aiming point and makes target acquisition quick, precise and simple.

“The tried-and-true Duplex® reticle was invented by Leupold in the early 1960s; our FireDot Reticle System continues that tradition of innovation,” said Pat Mundy, communications manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “An all-new fiber optic LED illumination method is employed for the FireDot, which offers reticle options for a wide range of hunting applications.”

Designed for fast target acquisition, each FireDot reticle features an extra-bright centerpoint dot. The FireDot Duplex has the versatility for a broad range of game. Ideal for extended-range shooting, the Ballistic FireDot is well suited for varmint, antelope and big game at longer distances.

The FireDot Circle is designed specifically for fast-moving targets, including dangerous game, pigs and even turkeys. With its bold post, the FireDot 4 helps draw the eye to the center of the reticle and keeps the upper field of view free of obstructions. The FireDot Pig Plex is calibrated to frame up a mature hog and provide just the right amount of lead on running boars.

VX-R riflescopes feature a single push button illumination system with Leupold’s own Motion Sensor Technology (MST™). A touch of the button illuminates the dot within the reticle. By repeatedly pressing the button, the user can select between eight different intensity settings including a high-low indicator, which flashes when either the maximum or minimum intensity is reached. After five minutes of inactivity, the illumination system automatically switches to stand-by mode, but reactivates at the same intensity setting whenever the rifle is moved. This helps extend battery life and, by reducing movement, allows the hunter to maintain greater stealth in the field.

VX-R models include 1.25-4x20mm, 2-7x33mm, 3-9x40mm, 3-9x50mm, 4-12x40mm and 4-12x50mm. Each is available with one or more of the FireDot reticle options. The illumination system is powered by a CR-2032 coin cell battery, readily available around the country Sporting Leupold’s familiar Golden Ring®, VX-R riflescopes are backed by the company’s Full Lifetime Guarantee. Riflescopes with illuminated reticles are legal for use in all states that allow centerfire rifles for big game hunting. For more information, visit a local dealer, go to www.leupold.com or call 1-800-LEUPOLD.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., the preeminent American-owned and -operated optics company, employs more than 700 people in its state-of-the-art facility near Beaverton, Ore., where rugged, dependable, high-performance Golden Ring® optics, Mark 4® riflescopes and Redfield® Revolution™ riflescopes are designed, machined and assembled. Leupold is a fifth-generation, family owned company whose products are sold worldwide to hunters, competitive shooters, American military warfighters, law enforcement personnel and wildlife observers. The product line includes rifle, handgun and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; flashlights; trail cameras; mounting systems; and optical tools and accessories.

GW: As for me, I’ll be serving my specialty at the Perry VFW Super Bowl party: Venison cooked with my secret recipe on the club’s grill.

Last year, NBC denied an ad PETA created for the Super Bowl due to its graphic content. Not surprising, PETA’s back again this year with another questionable effort that continues the animal rights group’s history of diving deep into racy territory.

PETA’s ad from last year, called “Veggie Love” featured women in their lingerie acting suggestively with a number of vegetables. The sexual content was so racy that the ad was rejected by NBC which was airing the Super Bowl. Now, PETA has creatively decided to repackage that effort. Essentially a sequel, PETA decided to make an ad comprised of outtakes from last year’s banned effort including scantily clad women “auditioning” for a role.

There is no official word yet on whether FOX, the TV channel airing this Sunday’s big game, will air the ad, but it seems highly unlikely.

Sportsmen Need to Contact Their Representatives Today to Stop This Bill
2/3/11

A bill introduced in Connecticut would require all firearms in the state to be registered.

House Bill 5800, introduced by Representative Toni Walker (D- New Haven), would require newly purchased firearms from dealers or from private sales be registered with the Department of Public Safety within 10 days of purchase. All currently owned firearms would also need to be registered within 10 days of the bill going into effect.

Additionally, owners would be required to renew registrations on their firearms every five years and would have to report if a firearm was sold, lost, or stolen.

“Gun registration is the first step to taking away your right to own guns,” said Rob Sexton, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance vice president of government affairs. “Sportsmen and all guns owners must educate elected officials regarding the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. This bill needs to be stopped.”

Take Action! Connecticut sportsmen need to contact their state representatives today and urge them to oppose House Bill 5800. Tell them there is no justification to require guns to be registered with the state. To find your state representative’s contact information, please visit www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.

For more information, contact the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance at 614-888-4868 or email info@ussportsmen.org.