Hunters need to separate themselves from gun nuts

Chicago Sun Times ^ | 2-17-03 | DALE BOWMAN

[SJackson]

"About the time that Daddy left to fight the big war/I saw my first pistol in the general store/In the general store, when I was thirteen/Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen/So I asked if I could have one someday when I grew up/Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up/She really blew up and I didn't understand/Mama said the pistol is the Devil's right hand.''

Steve Earle's ''The Devil's Right Hand''

Ihunt. It's the most intense and rewarding thing I do in the outdoors.

To hunt, I own guns.

They are my most valued possessions.

When I was 13, Dad gave me the family .22 rifle as my most cherished Christmas gift. When I turned 18, my 12-gauge shotgun and my deer rifle were my first important life purchases.

The only thing I asked Dad to bequeath me in his will is an ancient, open-bore, single-shot, 12-gauge shotgun my Grandpa Bowman gave him as his first gun as a boy.

Guns come with meanings for me, come with stories and histories.

So I watch with more than passing interest when an anti-gun person such as Mayor Daley steps into the political arena with gun legislation.

The latest foray came Thursday.

My first thought was, "Oh, God, not again.''

Then I picked through the highlights.

As a hunter and human being, I agreed with almost all of them.

As hunters, we must learn to separate ourselves from the gun nuts, those who would oppose every firearm restriction. Otherwise, we'll be lumped in the crackpot pile.

*A ban on military-style, semi-automatic assault weapons. I absolutely agree. It should have been done years ago. The problem for hunters is the definition of assault rifles; otherwise, it in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*Restrict handgun purchases to one per person per month. For my money, you could ban handguns completely. That in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*Gun fingerprinting. I have no problem with that other than it is another governmental intrusion into our lives. It in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*Lengthening the waiting period for taking possession of a handgun from three days to 10. Hey, make it a month, a year, 10 years. It in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*Require annual background checks of those who hold Firearm Owners Identification Cards. I think that will be a logistical nightmare and should not be enacted for that reason. Otherwise, check all you want. It in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*Increase the cost of a FOID card. It annoys me. It will cost me. But it in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*Mandate background checks of people who buy firearms at gun shows. Absolutely. That should have been in place years ago. That in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*State licensing of gun dealers and a state database of gun information. Go ahead. I think it will be a logistical nightmare; otherwise, it in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

*Increased penalty for secret compartments in vehicles for weapons. Throw the book at them. That in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

Daley's proposals make sense. But then, I am a hunter who owns guns, not a gun nut. Guns don't mean more than life to me.

Dale Bowman can be reached at outdoordb@aol.com.

"Bowman's Outdoor Line'' is heard on "Outdoors with Mike Norris'' (3-4 p.m. Thursdays, 1280-AM).

[The Lake City Gar]

Yes. Just like their are "Abortion Nuts", there are "Gun Nuts".

And propaganda both for and against on both sides.

[RamingtonStall]

Of course, people who believe that the Second amendment is about hunter's rights, are just "Plain Nuts".

Cheers! ([: ^ )

RamS

[harpseal]

When I first suggested the new Barrett LC stipulated that it could not be "a detructive device which I interpreted to mean anything firing an explosive projectile. But I stand by my first reaction that this would do the trick.

As to the tank ordinance SLB proposed I would love to have many of these toys but it does not meet the "sporting" rules. Of course were this real survival would always take precedence.

[Crowcreek]

' The writer is not a hunter, and most likely owns no guns'

A common stunt, like hillery and bill talking about their 'duck hunts' . . .

The lies go with other subjects, also, like: " I was in combat in, uh, Vietnam -- and I say no blood for oil!"

[ohmage]

Happy to share the good news.


Content from etherzone is not wanted here. If freepers want to read about it they're going to have to visit

http://etherzone.com/2003/metc021703.shmtl

For some reason I could link to the article but I couldn't use etherzone as a source. Go figure.

[ohmage]

This should work

http://www.theorator.com/bills108/hr648.html

[ohmage]

Now Dennis say THANK YOU to Mr. WILSON

[glock rocks]

hmmm, Mr. Wilson is talking to himself again.

[Barnacle]

Thread Bump!

[glock rocks]

please keep me in mind if you organize a t-rex safari.

do you have room in your den for the mounted head?

i wouldn't be much help carting the carcass out, but wouldn't mind being a spotter or something.

[Dead Dog]

What the hell is wrong with being a "Gun Nut", from the way this guy discribes himself, he's one too.

[Barnacle]

Dale's radio partner Mike Norris can be contacted at:

wallimike@aol.com

[E Rocc]

*Restrict handgun purchases to one per person per month. For my money, you could ban handguns completely. That in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.

Two words: Incrementalism. Precedent.

-Eric

[harpseal]

please keep me in mind if you organize a t-rex safari.

Given the odds of finding a T-Rex are about as good in downtown Manhattan as in the most inaccessable part of the Amazon or Africa I think if I organize this Safari it will be to a place wth lots of beaches, warmth, Tiki Bars, and lots of gorgeous members of the fair sex arround.

[harpseal]

Given the location and the proable real objects of the hunt I think you might change your mind out packing out bagged quarry.

[glock rocks]

if my sicilian better half catches wind of this, er, safari, well, i think i'd have better odds with the t-rex.

[SJackson]

*Restrict handgun purchases to one per person per month. For my money, you could ban handguns completely. That in no way affects my right to own a shotgun or rifle for hunting.
Two words: Incrementalism. Precedent.

With a touch of narcissism on the authors part.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks CP, I'll be sending out Chapter 40 today, when TSHTF.

[RamingtonStall]

The Term "Gun Nut" is a pejorative Term used by people who are trying to take away your second amendment rights. They use it to heap disdain on any person who personally owns a gun, who knows someone who owns a gun, or who in their youth played with toy guns.

The purpose is to Belittle or debase gun enthusiasts or any of the other people as listed above.

Similar names applied to minorities would be identified by the media as "Hate Speech".

The original writer of the lead article for this thread is a "Gun Surrenderer" who wants to give up all of his rights to keep and bear arms except for when he goes hunting.

Following his logic to its conclusion, he would have no problem with surrendering all of his guns and probably his fishing equipment to the Government for "Safe Keeping" and then requesting it from the appropriate government authority when he presented his valid Hunting License (or Fishing License) to borrow the Gun (fishing Tackle) for his annual event.

This is exactly what the "Gun Grabbers" (also a pejorative term) want to be the accepted Politically Correct attitude toward guns. Once the Issue of Guns, Firearms, and the Second Amendment is used in any context which includes the word "Hunting" we have already LOST THE ARGUMENT AND WE HAVE ALREADY GIVEN UP OUR RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.

RamS

[harpseal]

if my sicilian better half catches wind of this, er, safari, well, i think i'd have better odds with the t-rex.

I would say facing the t-rex unarmed would not be as painful as an angry Mrs.