I'm in Ohio again--on the campaign trail for Obama.  The response I've been getting from gun owning Democrats is very positive.  It's been important to let them know Obama is on their side and values their votes - and I'm more than happy to be that messenger.

Our Sportsmen for Obama video already has 16,000 views.  And, the Obama campaign also launched a new t.v. ad with an NRA life-member talking about his support for the Democratic ticket.  Just more proof that the Obama campaign gets it and isn't ceding any vote to the NRA leadership.   For years, those NRA honchos have conveyed the idea that gun owners are a monolithic vote, which they control.  That's not true--this  year, we're proving it.

Over the weekend, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund released its 2008 candidate ratings.  Our organization, American Hunters and Shooters Association (ASHA), did an analysis of the grades and endorsements, which show that the NRA continues to overwhelmingly support Members of Congress who have terrible records when it comes to protecting the environment.

The NRA clearly does not put any value on conservation.  In the 2008 ratings, the NRA gave an average "A" rating to the 161 House Members who have poor conservation records - a score of 25 or below from the League of Conservation Voters - and an average rating of a "D" to the 210 House Members with strong records on environmental conservation - 75 or above from the League of Conservation Voters.

The NRA gave an average rating of an "A" to the 10 Senators running for re-election who have poor conservation records and an average rating of a "D minus" to the 6 Senators who are running for re-election with strong conservation records.

These ratings and endorsements from the NRA confirm what American Hunters and Shooters first reported in August: The NRA leadership overwhelmingly supports Members of Congress who put the interests of Washington corporate lobbyists ahead of the interests that hunters and sportsman have in protecting America's public lands.

AHSA's earlier report, "SLASH AND BURN: Why Does the National Rifle Association Support Congress's Biggest Opponents of Conservation?" can be found here.

In our analysis, we looked at critical issues like the Roadless Area Conservation Act to protect America's National Forests from corporate loggers and clear-cutters; the 2005 Pombo-Gibbons Amendment that would have enabled the sale of public wilderness lands to corporate mining interests; and "Katrina Amendment" (Senate Amendment 1094), which recognizes the impact of climate change in future flood-control and other water resources projects.  Those are priorities for America's hunters and shooters--but not the NRA.

It's time for gun owners, hunters, and all Americans to repudiate the NRA's slash and burn culture war politics and join the movement to protect our gun rights and the lands we love.  

That's why AHSA, on behalf of hunters, shooters and conservationists, gives the NRA an F.

Today, the Supreme Court found that the Second Amendment of the Constitution does guarantee the individual right to keep and bear arms. This is a critically important decision for all of us who believe in gun rights. The Supreme Court made the right decision.

My organization, The American Hunters and Shooters Association, filed an amicus brief in the Heller case. We had a vested interest in this decision -- and we were validated. In fact, our brief was cited by the Court during oral argument in March and in the opinion today.

As I wrote in February:

Today, Justice Scalia confirmed what I’ve long believed: We have an individual right to keep and bear arms, but that right is not unlimited. Here are a couple of key excerpts, courtesy of Scotusblog:

And:

This is the balanced, thoughtful approach to the Second Amendment shared by most gun owners, including me. It is a far cry from the rhetoric of the N.R.A. that preaches unfettered access. That view was soundly rejected.

Furthermore, since we are in synch with the Supreme Court decision, this ruling should allow hunters and shooter to focus on critical issues facing us like global warming, protecting of our natural resources, public access and community safety.

Today’s decision guarantees that there will be more litigation to follow, but, we know that our rights are truly enshrined in the Constitution of the United States.

Last week, I wrote my first diary on DailyKos about the impact of climate change on hunting -- based on my first hand experience. That same day, Steve Rinella had an excellent op-ed in Friday’s New York Times pointing out some of the other issues facing the hunting community. Steve pointed out that hunters, often maligned, are actually some of the best advocates for the environment:

Steve’s conclusion also struck a chord with me:

Thank you, Steve, is the first thing I can say. Hunters are stewards of the land. We are, in fact, among the original conservationists. And, as Steve notes, many hunters are locavores. (That's the word of the year according to the New Oxford American Dictionary meaning those who eat locally grown food.)

We need to do a better job of explaining not only who we are, but how we value our precious resources. And, if we have a bad image, we have to ask why.

That’s one reason I helped start the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA). We have several key missions, one of which is preserving the environment. That depends on hunters and shooters understanding their contribution to maintaining a healthy, productive environment. Our website lays it out:

Pretty basic stuff. But, it’s been lost in the angry partisan rhetoric that arises on any issue that involves gun. Because of that, our interests as hunters are overlooked.

Unfortunately, the group many hunters and shooters have relied upon to protect our interests, the NRA, has failed miserably. Not because of its membership, but because of the NRA’s leadership.

Instead of engaging in pro-hunter, pro-conservation policies, the group’s leaders have chosen a far, different path. They’ve made angry, partisan rhetoric their standard operating procedure.

Pretty shocking, but it was only last month that the NRA took the initiative to start a website about hunter’s rights. I actually think the group only rekindled an interest in these issues after I helped create AHSA.

Ironically, the NRA’s efforts are being led by Kayne Robinson. In 2004, Robinson single-handedly drove a wedge between Outdoor Writers and the NRA by attacking the Sierra Club’s efforts to join with hunters to preserve public lands. Instead of building a powerful pro-hunting, pro-environmental alliance – and that alliance could be very powerful -- Robinson chose confrontational politics – again.

Even more disturbing is the information uncovered by former NRA lobbyist Richard Feldman, who recently published "Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist." In an op-ed that first appeared in Sunday’s Washington Post, Feldman continues to expose the way the NRA has become an ATM for its leaders – to the detriment of the membership. Like so many interest groups in Washington, the NRA’s leaders have put their interests first. As an aside, I also appreciate Feldman’s acknowledgment that gun owners span the political spectrum (liberal, moderate and conservative) – and that we share common values across that ideological spectrum. That is something both political parties – and the NRA’s leaders – often seem to forget.

The NRA doesn’t sound like an organization worried about what’s happening to the hunters, like me, who are waiting for ducks to fly south – when the ducks are not flying south because of global warming.

Hunters are facing serious issues -- not just within our ranks, but within our very world. From climate change to the over-development of public lands, we are directly impacted. At AHSA, I’m committed to hunters and I’m committed to a safe, clean world. To me, the two go hand-in-hand. Americans who love the outdoors and the shooting sports deserve an organization that represents their views, avoids angry political rhetoric and delivers well thought out, rational programs and policy proposals. That’s AHSA.