Posted on 05/10/2007 9:54:34 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) is clearly a master at the imitation game. As reported by Dave Workman in Gun Week on May 1, the organization rode into St. Louis on the coattails of the NRA Convention using the same type of deception the organization is known for in attempting to lure NRA members to their organization.
The information all came to light when AHSA held a press conference at a hotel close to the NRA Convention site. AHSA President Ray Schoenke ejected the NRA-TV news crew from the event. According to Gun Week, “Schoenke twice put his hands on the shoulder and arm of reporter Ginny Simone as cameraman Mark Wahley recorded the event.” Schoenke, a former pro-football player towered over the rather petite Simone, and, again quoting from the report, stated that he was “…tired of being bullied by the NRA”. Gun Week was allowed to stay at the press conference.
The hotel was appropriately confused in the whole encountered. The staff “assumed” the AHSA was associated with the NRA convention. From the Gun Week report, “They (the NRA) tried to get the hotel to kick us out. That’s their answer”, he said. “If you (NRA) don’t agree with them (alternative groups) you bully them and intimidate them. This is not going to happen with us.”
If the AHSA was not such a serious threat to gun owner rights through their deception and “sensible” gun laws they support, the above scene would have been completely hilarious, with a former pro-football player attempting to intimidate a lady while accusing her employer of being a bully.
However, the AHSA is winning some converts. I encountered one such convert at the recent Outdoor Writers of Ohio convention.
The gentleman is an outdoor writer from Kentucky by the name of Soc Clay. The Kentucky writers were invited to attend some of the functions at the Ohio convention. Since my family roots largely remain in Kentucky I invited several of the Kentucky writers to join my wife and me at dinner the first evening.
During the conversation the fate of Jim Zumbo came up in discussion. Clay immediately went off on a tirade about the NRA bullying Zumbo out of his job, his livelihood and his good reputation. Next was an endorsement of AHSA along with more “sensible approach to the gun issues” that appears to be out of the same playbook Schoenke used. Clay claims to be a long-time friend of Zumbo. Considering the convention and location, I mostly held my tongue, only suggesting that Clay was being deceived and risking the same type of “education by gun owners” that Zumbo has received. After that I rather avoided the aging, and perhaps out of touch, writer.
Certainly, not all gun owners or hunters are happy with the NRA on any given day or subject. That is fine and acceptable for debate. Critical hunting issues include both guns and public access to good habitat. Which is more important? Neither or both is my answer. I can’t hunt without my guns but my guns are no help if there is no place to hunt.
However, the NRA has a good track record in supporting hunters. I can personally attest to this with the NRA’s recent support of concealed carry for hunters in Ohio. When the leadership of Buckeye Firearms Association felt we had a very good chance to push for CCW for hunters with the Division of Wildlife, we called upon the NRA for support. They answered by sending an Alert to their members that the time was now to move forward. That Alert was picked up by many NRA members, including Dr. Larry Mixon who is on the Ohio Wildlife Council (the Division of Wildlife public oversight board). It was critical support and the timing was key.
The AHSA continues to act like spoiled brats, elitists, and slight of hand snake oil salesmen in the field of hunter and shooter rights. Gun Week reports that Schoenke continued his bullying accusations against the NRA for trying to discourage mayors from joining the Bloomberg coalition of anti-gun mayors. Apparently AHSA believes hunters should partner with Bloomberg’s illegal witch-hunt to eliminate guns.
However, the pedigree of AHSA gets even worse. The group’s research on guns was led by Josh Ulibarri, vice-president at Lake Research Partners. Lake Research Partners boast on their website that its principles are among the Democratic Party’s leading strategists. Their client list includes the Democratic National Committee, The Democratic Governor’s Association, Sierra Club (which is hugely anti-hunting), Human Rights Campaign, Emily’s List and the Kaiser Foundation.
The AHSA with the deceptive tactics and self-serving “research numbers” is not going to go away. They are making inroads to uninformed hunters. While not as big or politically connected, at least yet, as the Brady Bunch, the Joyce Foundation's Freedom States Alliance, PETA or other anti-gun or anti-hunting organizations, they are a force to be carefully watched.
[Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a Region Leader for Buckeye Firearms Association and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award.]
If this group is trying to enlist hunters and other long gun enthusiasts in the effort to ban handguns, they should consider the words of Martin Niemoller, about when the Nazis came for the Jews.
-Eric
If they don’t understand how Zumbo screwed himself, they don’t understand the 2nd amendment.
Better informed now.
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I lost faith in the NRA long ago.
‘Just curious what made you loose faith in the NRA?’
The tactics they employed politically in the late 1980’s, the overwhemling number of third class mailings I was subjected to, and the trend towards overt hysteria where once was reasoned debate. I finally let my membership fees expire, and eventually they left me alone.
If I were to join another organization along these lines it would be GOA.
He needs to call his buddy and ask him about AHSA.
The NRA had exactly nothing to do with the shellacking Zumbo received, and I believe he would testify as such.
A ban on "assault weapons", and so-called "cop killer bullets", are on their list of "sensible" gun control.
They exploit the ignorance of Elmer Fudds, who think the Second Amendment protects the "right" to hunt, and that nobody "needs" a semi-automatic firearm, of any kind.
Excuse me, responding in kind to the types of attacks we suffered by the likes of the Brady Bunch, is NOT a fault.
If they didn’t respond the way they did then, you wouldn’t own firearms now.
But maybe you want that?
There is no such thing as “reasoned debate” with anti gunners.
They want you disarmed. Period. Nothing else will do.
If you don’t believe that, you don’t believe the jihadies want you dead!
On the other hand, GOA is a fine group. But you will get NRA members who think GOA is a fringe radical group!
Go figure.
Infighting is nuts. It only helps Schmuky Shumer.
“Excuse me, responding in kind to the types of attacks we suffered by the likes of the Brady Bunch, is NOT a fault.
If they didn’t respond the way they did then, you wouldn’t own firearms now.
But maybe you want that?”
Great example of why I shun the NRA these days. You can’t disagree with ‘policy’ without getting hit with the type of comment you offered up here.
I’m a lifelong gun owner, my specific interest is combat handgunning, which my wife and I routinely enjoy together. I offer my view the NRA went a bit too far with some of its portrayals of gun related issues....and out of the blue, a poster that apparently has NEVER READ a post of mine on a gun topic suggests I’m in effect a ‘closet gun grabber’?
The NRA has done some very good work, but if you pay attention to this issue you KNOW there is dissatisfaction with its tactics, hence the rise of GOA for just one example.
When noting dissatisfaction with the NRA = Gun Grabbers...well, it highlights exactly why I stopped contributing to the NRA. I’ve run into this mindset once too many times.
Whats aggravating too me is I will never give up my guns, under any circumstances that fall short of my own death. I suspect you hold the exact same point of view I do.
Yet you attack me for not being happy with the NRA?
We’re on the same side. Lets not arrange a circular firing squad, okay?
“They are awesome! GOA refuses to cave to libs/gun-grabbers under any circumstance, even when the NRA occasionally goes a little wobbly.”
yep. I hope nobody gets the false impression I’m ‘against the NRA’ thats inaccurate. I just dont’ care to belong to the organization. I get enough third class mail due to my wife’s penchant for online and mailorder shopping as it is....(chuckle)
roflmao!
“We’re on the same side. Lets not arrange a circular firing squad, okay?”
What a visual!
The line: Maybe you want that? is sarcasm. Members of the GOA don’t think like that. I know.
I’ve had my problems with the NRA too. I was Neal Nox fan for years. I despise the way the NRA uses its magazines to push “approved” board candidates. And as a life member I’ve taken the time to blast ol Wayne buddy in person.
So I know what you are saying.
I guess what set me off was the “reasoned debate” line.
There is no such thing. Attack, Attack, Attack. My tagline says it all.
Have a good day!!
‘Have a good day!!’
Anytime you can reach an understanding as we just did is a ‘good day’ in the forum.
You do the same.
“On the other hand, I’ve never even heard of this “Hunters and Shooters” group. Brady Bunchers?!”
North American Hunt Club has done an expose on this 5th column.
Danerous group. Very Sneaky.
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