Bi-Partisan Congressional Majority Moves to Restore Second Amendment in National Parks

Friday, May 22, 2009


On Wednesday, NRA-backed legislation to restore the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in national parks and wildlife refuges passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 279-147. Today, the measure was signed into law and, as specified in the legislation, will take effect in nine months, on February 22, 2010. This was a major repudiation of the gun control community's anti self-defense agenda.

The current Department of Interior (DOI) regulations were amended by the Bush Administration in 2008, allowing law-abiding citizens to defend themselves by carrying a concealed firearm in national parks and wildlife refuges. However, early this year, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. granted anti-gun plaintiffs a preliminary injunction against implementation of the new rule. NRA has been working for the past several years in the regulatory, legal, and legislative arenas to achieve this policy change.

"It has been an NRA priority to change the old, outdated rule, and we are pleased that Congress passed this critical legislation," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "This step brings clarity and uniformity for law-abiding gun owners visiting our national parks and wildlife refuges. NRA will continue to pursue every avenue to defend the American people's right of self-defense."

The National Park Service's recent report revealed that 11 murders, 35 rapes, 61 robberies and 261 aggravated assaults occurred on parklands in 2006. Our parks also contain hidden methamphetamine labs, marijuana fields and illegal drug and illegal alien smuggling routes. In addition to these dangers and potential attacks from human predators, park visitors have to consider attacks from animal predators. Between April and December 2007 there were at least a dozen grizzly bear attacks reported by park visitors. Today, 31 states allow the carrying of firearms in state parks--all with safe and satisfactory results.

This bill provides consistency across our nation's federal lands and puts an end to the patchwork of regulations that govern different lands managed by different federal agencies. In the past, only Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands allowed the carrying of firearms, while National Parks and Wildlife Refuges did not.

In 1982, only six states allowed citizens to carry handguns for self-defense. Currently, 48 states have some process in place for issuing licenses or permits to allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self-defense. The NRA has long held that the regulations needed to be updated to reflect this change.

This move restores the rights of law-abiding gun owners who wish to transport and carry firearms for lawful purposes on most DOI lands and makes federal law consistent with the state law in which these lands are located.
"This common-sense measure, offered by Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), gives law-abiding gun owners the option of protecting themselves in our federal parks and refuges. We appreciate the efforts and leadership of Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and Representatives Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) and Rob Bishop (R-Utah), in ensuring a legislative remedy to amend out-of-date regulations and restore the Second Amendment rights of American gun owners," concluded Cox.

OHN POPE ELECTED DUCKS UNLIMITED PRESIDENT

DENVER, Colorado., May 23, 2009 – Ducks Unlimited ushered in a new era at its Annual Convention in Denver this week as delegates elected longtime volunteer, John R. Pope, of Jacksonville, Fla., as its 40th President. Pope will follow in the footsteps of Bruce Lewis, who is now the Chairman of the Board.

“It is a great honor and it is with a great sense of awe that I stand here this morning as your president,” said Pope. “I am deeply humbled and promise to lead Ducks Unlimited in the proud traditions of its history and the many men who held this distinction as well.”

As president, Pope said he plans to continue DU’s progress with its continental campaign, Wetlands for Tomorrow, while bolstering efforts to “Rescue the Duck Factory,” by conserving waterfowl breeding habitat on the prairies. In his acceptance speech, Pope called on DU volunteers to rally around the cause, hearkening back to DU’s founding during the Great Depression.

“From its earliest days this organization has been built on personal relationships and the overall support of its volunteers, who all work for the ducks and their habitats,” Pope said.

During his tenure, Pope explained that he plans to emphasize teamwork between staff and volunteers, increase event attendance through recruitment and mentoring, and continue to expand DU’s involvement in the policy arena. Most of all, Pope says he hopes to help achieve DU’s vision, “to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.”

Since Pope first joined DU in 1983, he has served as district chairman, state chairman, regional vice president, and as senior vice president. A University of Florida graduate, Pope, 61, resides in Jacksonville with his wife Jane and works as a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services.

“This is an exciting time for Ducks Unlimited,” said Don Young, DU’s executive vice president. “We’re fortunate to have a strong cadre of volunteer leaders, and with John Pope at the helm, he will no doubt continue that tradition of excellence. John’s knowledge of the organization, married with his passion for the mission and his financial expertise, will serve Ducks Unlimited well over the next two years and beyond.”
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.

Missouri hunters set a safety record in 2008

Firearms accidents, which have declined steadily since hunter
education became mandatory in 1988, reached a historic low last year.

JEFFERSON CITY–Missouri recorded 15 firearms-related hunting accidents in 2008, the fewest since the Missouri Department of Conservation began keeping records in 1963.

Conservation Department records show that the incidence of firearms hunting accidents peaked in 1986, when 98 people were hurt in such incidents. That was not the most lethal year, however. While only seven hunters died in firearms hunting accidents in 1986, 22 lost their lives in both 1966 and 1970. Twenty perished in firearms hunting accidents in 1963 and 1967.
The number of total firearms hunting accidents hovered in the 70 to 90 range from 1976 through 1985, and Missouri averaged 11.8 fatal firearms hunting accidents during that period.
“In hindsight, those were dark days,” said Hunter Education Coordinator Tony Legg. “The annual toll was an embarrassment to hunters, and Missouri took a leading role in ending that era.”

In 1988, the Conservation Department began requiring anyone born after Dec. 31, 1966, to complete an approved hunter education course before they would buy any hunting permit. The results, documented in hunting-accident statistics, were remarkable. The number of accidents dropped by more than 50 percent in the first 10 years of mandatory hunter education. In 2008, the 20th anniversary of mandatory hunter education in Missouri, the number of hunting accidents was one-quarter what it once was. None of the accidents recorded last year was fatal.

Requiring hunters to wear hunter-orange clothing during firearms deer seasons also has played a significant role in reducing hunting accidents. However, Legg noted the frequency of accidents has decreased in all types of hunting, not just deer hunting.
Although pleased at the progress, Legg said he and the Conservation Department are far from content with the current safety record.

“Fifteen nonfatal accidents represents tremendous progress, but it still is 15 more than we would like to see,” said Legg. We think we can do better.”

One strategy the agency uses to reduce hunting accidents is aggressively publicizing the causes of hunting accidents to raise awareness of what causes them.

Legg said three-quarters of Missouri’s firearms hunting accidents consistently result from three things: victims in the line of fire but not visible to the shooters, hunters swinging on game and covering the victim and mistaking another hunter for game. One-third of last year’s firearms-related hunting injuries were self-inflicted. These most often involve victims resting the muzzle of a firearm on a foot or putting a hand over the muzzle.

“The number of hunting accidents that no one could have prevented is practically nonexistent,” said Legg. “That means hunters are almost entirely in control of the number of injuries that occur each year. A hunter who takes to heart the lessons learned in hunter education and keeps safety foremost in his or her mind in the field is almost guaranteed never to hurt another person.”

The Conservation Department offers hunter education in a classroom format or as a self-directed online course. The classroom version lasts about 10 hours. The Internet option includes an online test and a field exercise where participants demonstrate their mastery of key information.

Your opinion matters to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Voice your opinions about hunting regulations and seasons at one of 11 public meetings to be held around the state. The meetings are part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s annual hunting regulations process.
The meetings will be held Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. Hunters will have the opportunity to make comments and proposals for the 2009-10 hunting seasons. The proposed regulations can be found at: http://www.agfc.com/hunting/misc_hunting/public-meeting.aspx#general.

Comments may be either oral or written. Written comments may be submitted at any of the meetings or mailed by Jan. 30 to the AGFC, attn: Hunting Regulations Proposals, 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, or by e-mail at information@agfc.com. There will be a brief presentation at 7 p.m. followed by oral comments from the public. AGFC personnel will be available to answer questions after the meeting.

While you’re letting us know what you’d like to see in the hunting regulations, why not sign up for the Conservation for Arkansas Network? If you’ve already signed up for CAN, thanks for being a part of the state’s conservation movement. If not, why not sign up today? The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is making it easier for outdoorsmen to provide input to the agency. The database of anglers, hunters and wildlife watchers will make it much easier to announce programs and projects. When something important is happening, you’ll be notified by e-mail and will have the opportunity to weigh-in with comments.

Public meetings, possible regulations changes, hunting permit applications and special events held by the AGFC are just a few of the things members will receive in their inbox. They’ll also receive the AGFC’s weekly newsletter, fishing reports and waterfowl hunting reports.
The best part about joining CAN is the opportunity to help the AGFC learn more about their customers. When you join, complete a simple survey about your favorite outdoors activities, what outdoor settings you visit most, and what information you want from us. Once the AGFC knows what you want, we can focus our efforts on projects that enrich everyone’s outdoors experience.

Everyone is welcome to join. It doesn’t matter if you hunt, fish or enjoy a walk in the woods while listening to the birds, the AGFC wants to know about you. All you have to do is visit http://www.agfc.com/wildlife-conservation/can.aspx and follow the online instructions. Your voice matters; make sure we hear it.

Utah Wildlife Board Meeting - Jan. 8

The next meeting of the Utah Wildlife Board will be held Jan. 7 and
Jan. 8 in Salt Lake City.

On Jan. 7, an appeal regarding a board decision will be heard ( not
much public interest there ), but on Jan. 8, rules for Utah's 2009 bears
hunts and some other items the public may be interested in will be
discussed.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. The public is invited and encouraged to
attend.

An agenda for the meeting is pasted below!


Utah Wildlife Board Meeting

Jan. 7-8
9 a.m.
Quality Inn
1659 W. North Temple
Salt Lake City

AGENDA

Wednesday, Jan. 7 – DNR Complex, Room 1010

1. Board Appeal – Rex Powell – Time Certain 9 a.m.


Thursday, Jan. 8 – Quality INN

meeting begins at 9 a.m.

1. Approval of Agenda ACTION
– Paul Niemeyer, Chairman

2. Approval of Minutes
ACTION
– Paul Niemeyer

3. Old Business/Action Log
CONTINGENT
– Rick Woodard, Vice-Chair

4. DWR Update
INFORMATION
– Alan Clark, DWR Assistant Director

5. Deer Feeding Policy
INFORMATIONAL
- Justin Dolling, Game Mammals Program Coordinator

6. Bear Study
INFORMATIONAL
- Kevin Bunnell, Mammals Program Coordinator

7. Bear Proclamation and Rule R657-33
ACTION
- Justin Dolling, Game Mammals Program Coordinator

8. Statewide Pronghorn Management Plan
ACTION
- Kevin Bunnell, Mammals Program Coordinator

9. Falconry Rule R657-20
ACTION
- Kevin Bunnell, Mammals Program Coordinator

10. Drawing Application Procedures Rule R657-62
ACTION
- Kenny Johnson, Wildlife Licensing Specialist

11. Wildlife Convention Permits Rule R657-55
ACTION
- Kenny Johnson, Wildlife Licensing Specialist

12. Habitat Management Plans – CRO ONLY
ACTION
- Ashley Green, Habitat Program Coordinator

13. CWMU Advisory Committee Member Replacement ACTION
- Boyde Blackwell, Wildlife Program Coordinator

14. Wildlife Board Variance Request – Mr. Trevor Smith
ACTION

15. Other Business
CONTINGENT
– Paul Niemeyer


In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Persons
needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids
and services) for this meeting, should contact Staci Coons at 801-538
4718, giving her at least five working days notice.