Straight talk on politics, policies and rules
Shooting Straight is aimed at informing NWTF members of legislation, policies, rules and other issues that affect hunting traditions and their rights as gun owners and sportsmen and women.
Each magazine will highlight several key issues that need your immediate attention by contacting local, state or federal legislators. And we’ll let you know of challenges to our way of life that have been averted by your political actions.
We will be keeping a close watch on lawmakers across the United States, Canada and Mexico, but we need your help in becoming aware of local issues. Send us your action requests.
[Hunting Heritage]
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Cass Sunstein |
Animal rights extremist appointed to OIRA
Despite efforts of thousands of sportsmen and numerous outdoor groups, well-known animal rights extremist has been appointed and confirmed as head of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Such a figure in this office could affect the traditions of hunting, fishing and trapping as we know it.
Cass Sunstein, President Obama’s choice for the powerful regulatory position, is a rabid supporter of animal rights. Sunstein also is an ardent anti-hunter who has been quoted denouncing hunting as a recreational activity. In The Rights of Animals: A Very Short Primer, he wrote, “We might ban hunting altogether, at least if its sole purpose is human recreation.”
Sunstein also supports allowing lawsuits against humans on behalf of animals, according to the book Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions. That right is currently only extended to human beings.
Extreme views such as these raise serious concerns about the agenda Sunstein will carry with him into this position. As a part of the federal budget office, OIRA has extensive authority to block rules, including those that protect or promote hunting, fishing and trapping.
The North American Model of wildlife conservation relies on hunting not only as an unmatched wildlife management tool to control abundant game species, it also relies on funds generated through license sales and excise taxes levied on firearms, ammunition, archery tackle and fishing tackle to pay for programs that benefit all species of wildlife, including threatened and endangered species.
Without hunters, trappers and anglers, the most successful model for wildlife conservation in the world could implode and do serious damage to wildlife populations in the future.
Easy Does It in Oklahoma
Staying legal in Oklahoma may get a lot easier if regulation changes to consolidate its numerous permits are approved by lawmakers in the state.
Hunting in Oklahoma often is a chore before one even leaves the cash register as hunters and cashiers wade through a list of permits thicker than a stand of cattails around a duck blind. For instance, waterfowlers must have a state hunting license, waterfowl license, federal waterfowl stamp, Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit and Legacy permit just to duck hunt in the state.
If you hunt or fish for more than one species, the list goes on: trout license, bear license, paddlefish permit, sandhill crane permit, deer permits, antelope permit, spring or fall turkey license, etc. For non-residents … forget about it.
The confusion has sparked a bill by state Sen. John Sparks to create a task force to research the department’s licensing program and to see if things can be simplified to make the process easier for all involved, without the state losing the revenue it depends upon to operate.
According to Micah Holmes, information supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the task force has proposed five options to the legislature that would accomplish that goal. The options are:
- Eliminate the trout license entirely.
- Create season licenses for deer instead of individual deer tags. This season license would include all tags needed up to the season limit.
- Create an all-inclusive resident annual “Sportsman’s License.” This license would hold the same privileges of a lifetime license but for only one year and include all state fishing and hunting permits and licenses for deer, turkey, waterfowl, elk, antelope and fur. According to Holmes, as individual ticket items, these licenses total $354 if bought separately, but only $150 combined in the proposed new license.
- Non-resident fishing licenses will increase to $55 annually or $35 for a five-day license.
- Five of the 13 lifetime licenses would be eliminated and combined with others for a slightly higher price, but with more opportunities.
Now it’s up to the legislature to either adopt, amend or reject these suggestions. Contact your state legislators to let them know if you are in favor of these proposals. You also can track legislative action that affects hunters, fisherman, trappers and wildlife conservation online at the ODWC Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com.
[Gun Rights]
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Photo by Doug Howlett/NWTF
Restricting lead ammunition based on inconclusive research, coupled with the higher price of lead-free alternatives, could affect access for hunters who may be on fixed or reduced incomes. |
NSSF: Traditional ammo not a health threat
According to a National Shooting Sports Foundation report, in response to an announcement regarding a National Parks Service program encouraging hunters to voluntarily switch to alternative ammunition, the Foundation rejected the NPS’s categorization of traditional ammunition as a health threat.
The National Park Service has raised concerns that lead bullet fragments found in game meat could cause lead poisoning in humans, a charge not borne out in scientific studies, including a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study on North Dakota hunters who consumed game. The study showed there was no reason for concern over eating game taken with traditional ammunition. There has never been a documented case of lead poisoning among humans who have eaten game harvested with traditional ammunition.
Steve Sanetti, president of NSSF, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, said, “The firearms industry supports science-based decisions about wildlife management. Under current regulations, there is no scientific evidence showing that the health of wildlife populations and humans is at risk from the use of traditional ammunition.”
In a press release, Grand Teton National Park and National Elk Refuge officials encouraged hunters to voluntarily switch to alternative ammunition during the 2009 elk and bison seasons. The voluntary measures are being advocated even though the manager of the elk refuge has told NSSF there have been no population impacts on ravens and eagles connected with the use of traditional ammunition.
Earlier in the year, the park service announced a ban on traditional ammunition that applied to park personnel involved with culling sick and wounded animals and indicated it would consider widening the ban to all hunters.
“Any decision made about federal lands with regard to ammunition products should be based on thorough scientific study of population impacts,” said Lawrence Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “Currently, there is no scientific evidence that indicates wildlife populations are being negatively impacted.”
Keane also expressed concern over the cost to hunters forced or coerced into purchasing alternative ammunition products. “Non-traditional ammunition is expensive and about doubles the cost of a box of bullets,” he stated. This added expense, he reasoned, could “keep people from hunting and have a negative impact on the Pittman-Robertson Conservation Fund.” A portion of the proceeds from the sale of every box of ammunition and each firearm goes to the Pittman-Robertson Fund, which is the keystone for state wildlife conservation projects. — Matt Lindler