Are YOU the Sportsman's Biggest Threat?

I've got a question for you.  What would you consider to be the biggest threat to the Sportsman's way of life?  Do you think it's the anti-hunting animal rights activists?  The gun control shouting liberal Democrats?  Have you ever considered that you yourself might be one of the biggest threats to our sport?

I'll lay it on the line for you.  If you're not doing something to help our cause, then you are a part of the problem.  This might piss some of you off.  I'm perfectly willing to accept the fact that you might be puffing out your chest right now saying "who the hell does he think he is, telling me I'm a threat to hunting, or to guns?  I buy my hunting license every year, don't I?"  If you responded that way to my statement, then I'm even more sure that you're the problem.

Apathy, my friends.  That's the biggest problem.  The thought that someone else somewhere is fighting for your cause and you don't need to do anything about it.  You don't need to join the fight.  You don't have the time or the money.  There are others out there who are more capable than you.

The battle is right in front of you, and you are helping your side lose.

I guess you want to know what I'm talking about.  Again, if you don't know, you merely continue to confirm that you are part of the problem.  I'll try to make it clearer.  Just this week, you heard right here on Wingshooters that Feinstein is going after semi-automatic weapons again.  Raise your hand... how many of you called your Senator to protest?   One... two...  Just two of you?  Oh, wait, one of those hands was mine.  Sorry.

WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL YOUR SENATOR?!?  How hard is that?  It's FREE, Sportsmen.  IT'S A PHONE CALL.  A LOCAL PHONE CALL.  How much time does that take?  It took 10 minutes out of my day for me to make the call, and it was only that long because I chatted for a few minutes with the assistant who answered the phone.

In this battle, your part is really pretty easy.  Look folks, the truth is on our side.  We're in the right.  We've got that going for us.  I'm going to tell you a few things that you can do to become a part of this fight.  I'll start with the free stuff, then we'll go into those things that are going to cost you a little bit of money. 

The most important thing you can do to help our cause is to make those phone calls.  Call your Senator, your Representatives, your Governor.  Learn who represents you in Congress.  They should hear from you so often that they know your name.  This part is absolutely free.  Your representatives all have local offices.  You can call them on your lunch hour.  They'll take your name, number, and address, then ask you what issue you are calling about.  If it's a specific bill you're interested in, you need to know the bill number.  They'll probably ask you if you want a response.  I like to tell them yes, I would like to hear back from my representative on this.  I have a folder in my file cabinet that contains letters from my Congressmen.

If you don't know who your Congressmen are, after you finish reading this article I want you to go do a little bit of research.  I want to you find out their names.  Write them down.  Carry them with you.  Learn who they are and what party they belong to.  My Representative is a Democrat.  He knows I'm not going to vote for him.  His office knows.  But that doesn't stop me from calling him and writing letters to him.   If you don't know who represents you, the NRA has a great website that will tell you all about them.  Visit it at this link.

Here's another free thing that you can do.  Talk to the people around you about hunting, guns, and the Second Amendment.  Don't do it so much that you become a pest or a bore.  But when something mildly related to the subject comes up, be there to jump in and discuss it.  Tell them why we're right.  If you don't know why we're right, then you need to spend some time researching the facts about wildlife conservation and about the crimes that are committed and prevented by people with guns.  You need to be educated about our cause.

Now we're going to spend a little bit of money.  Not much.  Not more than you can afford.  But you need to do this.  Although I said earlier that you needed to not rely on those who are out there fighting the battle for you, you do need to support them.  There are several well-established organizations out there, and you need to be a member of three of them.  Any three.  Your choice.  Join one every four months until you are in three.  The average cost is $35.00 per organization.  Set aside $10.00 each month for three months, then in the fourth month add just $5.00 more, and you've got your fee.  Some of the dues are even tax deductible. 

Here are some of the ones you can join. 

The National Rifle Association.  This is the big one, folks.  If you're not going to agree with me that you can afford to join three organizations, and can only do one, this is the one to be in.  The NRA carries the most weight in Washington, and that is not likely to change anytime soon.  And believe me, whatever argument you have against the NRA, I've heard it.  I've probably lived it.  You don't agree with everything they do.  Umm, is there anyone that you agree with on everything?!?   The constantly send you letters asking for money.  If you don't like it, IGNORE IT.  Send in your dues and go about your life.  Heck, they've even got an associate membership that only costs $10.00. 

Gun Owners of America.  Another group who is out there to defend the Second Amendment.

The United States Sportsman's Alliance.   A lobbying group dedicated to fighting for our cause.         

Ted Nugent United Sportsmen of America.  Mr. Nugent is one of the most vocal supports of our hunting heritage.

Ducks Unlimited.  The best known conservation organization in the world, Ducks Unlimited is responsible for the preservation of millions of acres of wetlands across North America. 

The National Wild Turkey Federation.  Another fine conservation organization, the National Wild Turkey Federation has many programs to introduce hunting to people who might not otherwise get to try it.   Their "Women in the Outdoors", JAKES, and "Wheelin' Sportsmen" are excellent examples of this.  Not to mention the fine work they do for the wild turkey.

Please, Sportsmen.  There is a point to all of this.  If you feel that I've berated you, it's for a reason.  We need to be united in this cause, my friends.  You need to do your part, because it is going to take all of us to win it.  Hunting is a way of life.  It's a way of life that we need to preserve.  A way of life that needs to be protected.  None of us can win it alone, and by doing your part, you help us all. 

Let me know what you personally do to help our cause.  Send me an email, and I'll compile a list to post on our front page to show what various Sportsmen are doing.