Topic: NRA!!

The Lodge

Member
Posts: 352

With the issue of gun control coming back to the mainstream media, I'm currious as to how many forum members are also NRA members. Are you a member of the NRA,or any other organization that fights for gun owner and sportsman's rights (SCI, NWTF, ect..) if so which one and why do you think it's important to be a part of that organization. If not, why not and why don't you think it's important to be a part of these organizations.

Go Big or Go Home

January 14, 2009 at 2:00 PM

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Wildcat Hunter

Moderator
Posts: 112

Deos thta mean...NOT REALLY ANYTHING??

January 14, 2009 at 8:04 PM

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horsethief

Member
Posts: 57

I was recently asked to set up a table at an NRA rally with Ted Nugent present. I told the guy that I guess he hadn't heard the bowhunters were a little upset with the NRA's support of crossbows. When he said he had heard there were rumblings, this was what I wrote back:

Dan,

Thanks for the comment and the ear, but rumblings is an understatement. Let me give you a run down since you are the first person I've talked to in the last 2 months from the NRA who seems to care. Most bowhunters opposed full crossbow inclusion in archery season for the following 4 main reasons (among others). There was no scientific data to support it. Traditionally in this state, any time a new weapon has been introduced it has always been done incrementally and gradually so harvest data could be closely monitored. There was no mention of a separate license so there could be complete accountability for crossbows. Crossbows are not bows that are handheld and drawn in the presence of game (the most obvious). They are shot like a rifle.

Even though the PGC didn't do any studies, we did a worst case scenario study of what could happen in PA over the next 5 years as a result. Cal Dubrock, their scientist, even testified at PGC hearings that they have no idea of knowing what might happen (relating that PA is like no other state in the US) and we can only try it and see. Where has the PGC's 20 some years of scientific wildlife management policy gone all of the sudden? Socially, bowhunter opposition far out numbered pro-crossbow support.

When the PGC was pushing for this, a situation brought on by the crossbow industry, not any grassroots in-state sportsmen's organizations, the NRA sent e-mails out to all its members telling them to support the passing of full inclusion of crossbows in PA. Bowhunters suspect that Ted Nugent had something to do with this. The only reason anybody could come up with was money in its various forms; license sales, crossbow sales, and God only knows what else.

Just to let you know I am an Endowment Life Member of the NRA since the 70's, so this just isn't sour grapes coming from a bowhunter. I am a retired cop who was a certified NRA instructor for my department. I attained the Master classification in police revolver shooting and was a 5 time PA Governor's Twenty recipient. I even attended the Friends of the NRA banquet in Butler last night (although I did not spend much money). As a cop sometimes patrolling a 24 square mile area at night by myself, I thanked God and the wisdom of our forefathers for the Second Amendment, because I knew I couldn't absolutely protect everyone in my bailiwick all the time. Now that I am retired and living in the country on my family's farm I see the need even more. I care about the NRA.

Regardless who was right or wrong the scariest fact is that the fallout from all this is that bowhunters in PA who are annual members of the NRA are NOT going to renew their NRA memberships when it comes time. RIGHT WHEN WE NEED THEM THE MOST! I even heard from one guy who made his first payment towards his life membership who said he asked for his payment back and is not going to pay the rest of it. Since it was passed, I have tried to talk to 4 NRA representatives about correcting the NRA policy of supporting any kind of hunting within states without checking out the consequences first. Especially if there is a chance that it goes against scientific wildlife management and resources first. I bet NO biologists were consulted and I am certain NO PA grassroots organizations were either.

What is the importance of bowhunters supporting the NRA? Without sounding egotistical and elitist I can tell you that bowhunters are the kind of sportsmen that know the meaning of commitment and dedication to something. There have been between 275,000 and 300,000 licensed bowhunters in PA over the last several years. Most own firearms and many are smart enough to support the Second Amendment, more so than the average rifle only hunter. I'd be willing to bet that a higher percentage of bow hunters who own guns belong to the NRA (up until recently) than the percentage of rifle only hunters who are members.

Bowhunters' dissatisfaction with the NRA getting involved in bowhunting issues in states right now is in the process of snowballing around the country. This is a going to be a main topic at this year's Pope & Young Convention as well as the North American Bowhunting Coalition meetings which are coming up soon. Bowhunters nationwide are a significant number. The NRA needs to be prepared, I think. The real sad part of my experience has been that I am having trouble with getting anybody at the NRA to listen. The worst thing I heard from one of the NRA Representatives at the Harrisburg show was that if bowhunters are leaving the NRA for that reason then "Shame on them." That is a very poor response and attitude to take in this day and age.

This dissatisfaction would have never happened if the NRA would have just looked before they leaped. A little investigation into the background of the crossbow issue and a couple of phone calls could have gone a long way. The need to say shame on them would not have come up if the NRA would not have supported the issue. From a lifetime in the law enforcement and the private security industry I have seen a lot of people get fired for screwing up something this big. I was fortunate enough to work for some very progressive and compassionate thinkers later on in life who instead of getting the axe out would say, "instead of pointing fingers, let's fix the problem so it doesn't happen again." And the way I look at it, the NRA started it.

I wish you would please feel free to share this with anyone in the NRA who will listen. All I get back is a form letter saying the NRA supports all forms of hunting or something like that. The NRA can contact me anytime.

Art Keefer
UBP Office Manager
581 Madison Shop Rd
Rimersburg, PA 16248

Art Keefer

Shoot Straight!

March 27, 2009 at 11:33 PM

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