In celebration of our partnerships with the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, American Hunters and Shooters Association is pleased to announce our first National Sportsmen and Women Tele-town Hall.

Supporters are encouraged to call in Tuesday, Oct 20, to learn how to join in nationwide efforts to protect threatened hunting and fish grounds.

DETAILS

• Date: Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009
• Time: 6 PM (EST)
• Toll Free Dial-In #:1-877-269-7289
• Conference Code: 15158#

HOLDING POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE:

As you know, your voice--that of America's hunters and anglers--is critical to moving the U.S. Senate to pass legislation that holds polluters accountable for threatening your hunting and fishing grounds.

By dialing into the call, you'll learn how you can be a part of nationwide efforts to safeguard our nation's wild places and build America's clean energy economy.

With climate and clean energy legislation recently introduced in the Senate, the coming weeks will be key to elevating the voices of those Americans concerned about the impacts of climate change on our wildlife and natural resources.

So, be sure to mark your calendars and call in!

I was in Hawaii, my home state, for most of August. Yes, it is a state. And, yes, Barack Obama was born here. We’re quite proud of that. The fact that this is an issue shows the absurdity to which the political debate in our country has devolved.

Like most people, I’ve come to expect a certain level of absurdity from the hard-core right wing. But, I have to admit, I was surprised that we got to a point where we were debating carrying guns to presidential events. As a gun-owner who takes his gun rights very seriously, I followed the discussion about guns being carried outside events where President Obama is speaking very closely. And, I don’t want supporters of gun rights tied to the far-right militia-types, because we’re not.

First, I support the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms to protect themselves. And, I know most gun owners who take on the responsibility of carrying in public know the responsibilities involved.

However, what we’ve seen lately is that for those carrying guns at Obama events it isn’t about self-defense, or exercising their rights, this was about politics – ugly politics. And, in the case of the AR-15, it was a radio show gimmick.

Then, last week, it didn’t help that someone was carrying around a sign at the FOX News/Tea Party protest, which read “We came unarmed (this time).” What kind of implied threat was that? Again, those aren’t the kind of gun owners with whom I want to be affiliated.

The problem with playing political games and launching stunts with our gun rights is that it makes all gun-owners look bad. This has been a problem we’ve had for years, mostly because the leaders of the National Rifle Association put partisan politics first. That weakens our overall movement. We already won the arguments that the Second Amendment is an individual right. We don’t need to flaunt those rights in ways that make gun owners the subject of mockery with links to militias. That’s not who most of us are. We took one major step forward – and we don’t need to take any steps back.

I’ve been saying for months that Obama isn’t going to take away anyone’s gun rights, so for me the relaxed response from the White House over carrying guns in public was no surprise. But, to many others, like the NRA, who refuse to accept Obama’s commitment to our Second Amendment rights, I’m sure it was unexpected.

Here’s what came From the White House:

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said people are entitled to carry weapons outside such events if local laws allow it. "There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally," he said. "Those laws don't change when the president comes to your state or locality."

It’s absolutely consistent with what I’ve been saying, and consistent with Obama’s position on gun rights. That should have made all gun owners happy. Yet, we all know that response didn’t make the leadership of the National Rifle Association (NRA) happy. Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox spent $40 million of their members’ money to defeat Obama. They spread lies about him then, and they haven’t stopped.

And, even though LaPierre and Cox been wrong every time, you won’t hear them admit it. Ever. That’s not their style. Their style is to foment discord with lies. That’s what we’ve seen at town halls: people who open carry with inflammatory messages, in hopes that the Administration will make all their lies and falsehoods seem true. Guess what NRA: you were wrong again.

Like I’ve said before, I support the right to carry and think that’s a decision best made by well-trained gun owners who are aware of the responsibilities that go along with it. But, encouraging gun owners to carry at a political event with the president just to make a statement is ridiculous. And, for the NRA, it “backfired.” I just hope this ploy doesn’t hurt the public's perception of gun owners, and make it harder to defend our rights.

Washington, D.C. - Ray Schoenke, the President of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), expressed support for Judge Sonia Sotomayor as Supreme Court Nominee. Schoenke made the endorsement in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

Schoenke, a life long hunter, and gun-owner stated his firm belief that gun owners have nothing to fear from Sotomayor:

“Based on the available case history, it appears that Sotomayor honors precedent. Now that D.C. v Heller is precedent, gun-owners should feel secure that their rights are safe.

After sending the letter, Schoenke stated, “As with most issues involving the Second Amendment, concerns about Sotomayor are being stoked by groups who benefit financially from the politics of fear. At AHSA, we believe strongly that the Second Amendment is an individual right, as determined in the landmark case, D.C. v. Heller. We know are gun rights are secure and look forward to the expansion of those rights to the states.

Schoenke noted, “In a recent Second Amendment case, Judge Sotomayor simply followed precedent in cases involving Second Amendment rights as it applies to the states. Other conservative judges in the Seventh Circuit took a similar position. What we should be focusing on is making sure that, Heller, through the 14th Amendment’s process of incorporation guarantees Second Amendment freedoms in all states.”

Contact: Colin at colin@huntersandshooters.com

AHSA welcomes New Media Director, Zak Johnson. A lifelong gun owner, Zak hails from Portland, Oregon and was the founder and first chair of the Gun Owners Caucus of the Democratic Party of Oregon. The caucus works to promote gun ownership as a nonpartisan civil right embraced by all Americans. Zak began his writing career as a reporter in South Africa in the late eighties and has since worked in conservation and resource management industries from commercial fishing to mink ranching. Zak looks forward to the day when the 2nd Amendment is as uncontroversial as mom, baseball and apple pie and knows AHSA is the team to forward that goal. Read Zak's blog.