Hunters disenchanted with the National Rifle Association now have a choice. There's a new pro-gun group, the American Hunters and Shooters, about to begin a nationwide membership drive.
Personally, I like the idea of a pro-second amendment organization that is just as concerned with the Clean Water Act and wetland protection. The AHSA differs with the NRA on issues such as 50-caliber rifles and background checks on gun show purchases.
The American Hunters and Shooters Association is a new pro-gun rights organization that says it is also concerned with supporting good conservation legislation. That doesn't sit well with either the NRA or the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
In fact, the NSSF obtained a Web site domain last January under the heading "Hunters and Shooters." The site didn't go up until the day after the AHSA held a press conference at the Outdoor Writers Association of America conference in Lake Charles, La.
Its new site, www.huntandshoot.org , is similar to that of the AHSA's www.huntersandshooters.org - so close that one of the founders of the AHSA, John Rosenthal, considers it a blatant attempt to confuse and deceive those intending to go to the AHSA site. While Rosenthal might be overreacting, you can't blame him for being a bit paranoid regarding the NRA crowd.
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The NRA has reacted to the formation of the AHSA by demonizing organizers, suggesting they are really anti-gunners wearing camouflage. After spending time with and quizzing AHSA folks quite intently at the recent Outdoor Writers Association of America Conference, I would hardly call them anti-gun people.
Of the AHSA founders, Bob Ricker spent enough time with the NRA as its legal counsel to know that it can be a formidable enemy. With 4 million members and $200 million in their checkbook, the NRA is no pushover.
On the other hand, another of the AHSA organizers spent much of his life going up against those bigger than he. AHSA president Ray Schoenke is a former All-Pro guard for the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys football teams. He spent his lengthy career protecting Sonny Jurgenson from some of thebiggest and meanest defensive linemen and linebackers in the NFL. He doesn't seem daunted by the size of the NRA.
He's a hunter and owner of a Chesapeake Bay area hunting preserve and feels strongly that the NRA doesn't represent him. Ricker believes that many hunters joined the NRA because "it was the only game in town."
The NRA, despite its size and wealth, apparently feels threatened by the AHSA. The irony is that many hunters who believe in conservation say the NRA too often endorses political candidates with poor conservation voting records as long as they vote right on guns.
Yet the NRA and others such as "Gun Magazine" and "Gunweek.com" have attacked the AHSA as a bogus organization and a front for gun control groups as well as their support of the Democratic party.
There's room for both groups. In fact, two organizations battling on behalf of gun rights makes sense, just as one of them battling on behalf of conservation also makes sense. It also makes sense from another more political perspective. The NRA says the AHSA is aligned with the Democratic party. So what?
For years, the NRA has aligned itself with the GOP, and demonized Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer, Diane Feinstein and other Dems as "anti-gun." The criticism hasn't changed opinions, which leads us to believe it logical that having a pro-gun group that can talk to these folks is worth a try. Browbeating hasn't worked.
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Tony Dean is the host and executive producer of "Tony Dean Outdoors," a television series that airs across the Upper Midwest. His daily radio show, "Dakota Backroads," airs 42 times daily on 39 North Dakota and South Dakota radio stations, plus two in Minnesota. He can be reached at tonydeanoutdoors@pie.midco.net
