Every state now offers a
hunter safety education program for first-time licensees. The idea started in
New York in the late 1940s, but do you know who pioneered the program, worked
with subsequent state agencies to get others going and for years provided
written material for the courses?
Do
you know which organization (there is only one) has taken an active role in
virtually every grass roots opposition effort in recent years where hunting was
being challenged by candidates or referendum?
Quick
now, name the organization that developed and hosts the most advanced and
comprehensive hunter education event available to our young hunters.
And
do you know what organization is busy right now developing a new hunters
instructor program to better serve today’s novice hunters?
It’s
the same organization that has made sure that hunters are still able to choose
firearms that are appropriate for the type of game and conditions they want to
hunt.
Yes,
it’s the National Rifle Association (NRA).
The
NRA has been the American gun owners’ guardian for 127 years. But it has, in
recent years, taken a great deal of abuse from the liberal media and even from
members and supporters who didn’t understand or appreciate the association’s
adamant stances on some issues.
The
NRA stands for the rights of all gun owners, not just those who firearms are
most popular. And the reasoning behind its stances is often skewed by the media
or misconstrued by the public.
“The
good news is that NRA is here, sticking it out and hasn’t lost that ground,”
says John Zent, editor of American Hunter
Magazine, the country’s largest circulation hunting publication. “The
reason you can hunt pretty much with guns you choose is because our political
folks have done their job.”
“For
example, the NRA has all along been opposed to sanctions against various
semiautos. In principle, we take the Second Amendment literally and don’t feel
that the government should ban any firearm, even the particularly ugly ones
called assault rifles.”
“The
hunter has to understand that the way these bans were thrown around they usually
extended to virtually any semiautomatic shotgun or rifle used for hunting –
your Remington 1100 or Browning BAR – not just the large capacity military
weapons pointed out in the media.”
“I
only wish that hunters who are not members of NRA would take a close look at the
intent of some politicians seeking to ban semiautomatics.”
The
NRA also got a black eye when it opposed the ban of what the media called the
Cop Killer Bullet some years ago. Behind the scenes the NRA, despite the attack
on its stance, helped rewrite the legislation and make it feasible.
“People
still don’t realize that if that bill had passed as it was written it would
have effectively banned virtually every centerfire rifle bullet we use for
hunting,” Zent said from his office at NRA headquarters in Virginia. “We
stood up and fought for it even though it wasn’t a popular thing to do. A lot
of people didn’t understand – but we wouldn’t allow hunters to be sold
down the road.”
“One
thing that kind of surprises me when talking to hunters is that they don’t
realize how serious these threats are. If the NRA wasn’t around over the last
20 years our firearm owners would be very severely restricted.”
The
NRA is working for the hunter-gun owner. Its Eddie Eagle Program is designed
specifically to educate elementary age children what to do when confronted by a
firearm – don’t touch it, leave the area, tell an adult. It is the most
pro-active program available that is addressing the problem of children and
guns.
The
NRA sponsors the Great American Hunters Tour, a series of seminars by high
profile hunters who accompany an impressive display of trophy mounts to sports
shows across the country. NRA members interested in big game hunting can enter a
drawing for elk, mule deer, black bear and turkey hunts on association’s
33,000-acre Whittington Center in New Mexico.
The
Whittington Center, near Raton, is also the site of the annual Youth Hunter
Education Challenge, a national event that mingles regional qualifiers together
and challenges their skills with firearms and bows as well as their knowledge of
conservation and environmental matters, woodsmanship and hunter safety.
Participants learn that hunting is not a solitary pastime but rather a group
activity that can be enjoyed with their friends.
“One
thing I would say is all hunters should be NRA members. It’s not fair to the
current hunter members to have to carry the load for the nonmembers,” Zent
said. “And I would urge you not to let the mass media define what NRA is.
Remember that they don’t have much good to say about hunting and would do away
with that too if they had a chance.”
To
join the NRA and help protect our gun and hunting rights call 800-672-3888.