Well I will have to disagree here. I was an NRA member for years but just let my subscription run out and have no plans to ever join again. Under the guise of hunting and the american way etc, the rags they send now are full of night vision scopes, automatic weapons, how to shoot a deer with a bazooka articles etc.
I consider myself an anti hunting hunter now as I believe STRONGLY that 99% of the hunters out there should not be allowed in the woods. I grew up and teach my kids the thrill of the hunt. A Matching of wits, skill, cunning, following tracks, getting in close for a clean shot and enjoying the pursuit in QUIET, natural surroundings enjoying the scenery along the way and the occasional views of Fox catching field mice through snow, the squirals chasing each other around etc.
Nowdays, the "average" hunter is out as a testosterone test to bring home a rack only. They drive quad runners that are noisy and tear up the ground, they think a close shot on a deer is 300 yards using a rifle that could bring down an elephant and if they shoot their buddy, a stranger or a Doe because they can't see the target but heard something, they leave it there and go on looking for another rack. I have never been so disgusted in my life as my last few years of hunting experiences. The norm if they manage to not do those things then is to get 10 of their friends together and drive deer toward another hunter waiting for the shot despite every state I have ever been stationed in clearly outlining this as illegal.
Don't come back and tell me it is an isolated thing. I am military and have hunted in Maine, Missouri, South Dakota and now in Idaho. The Average hunter now wants to drive thier 4 wheel drive truck up to a deer, shoot it out the window and have it jump into the bed of their truck while they slam beer. If they don't get one during the day, then they think nothing of spot lighting them at night.
The past 10 years, I have seen more dead deer in the woods with bullet wounds where they wouldn't even track them down. SOme were painful belly wounds. I have seen bear shot off season, Moose shot during deer season because the guy didn't know the difference. I have heard the bogus stories about the thrill and challenge of Moose hunting when the Moose is the dumbest creature on teh face of the earth and will walk right up and jump in your truck since they have no fear due to lack of natural enemies. Bear stories about how mean they are when in reality a bear will go out of it's way to avoid you unless you are between a sow and her cub. Besides what chance do they have when you bait a 50 gallon drum with food and sit over the top of it and shoot them as they eat. Of course the other way is to let 5-10 bear dogs loose and chase it down and shoot it as the dogs are tearing the hell out of it. WOW what sport that is.
I have also been down south where they let dogs hunt deer. A crime where anyone is allowed to shoot the dog north of the Mason Dixon line. Like the Alaskan Indians that do things I can't say here due to politically incorrect nature instead of working and then think killing a whale will return their masculinity, hunting in America has now become a macho bragging routine for losers who want to feel they have some sort of self worth but know deep inside they cant compete with mother nature on equal terms. When is the last time that any of these rednecks walked 5 miles following a trail, found a good spot and then just sat on teh ground in the cover of only a tree and then watched their quarry for 30 minutes in silence before taking the shot. THAT is hunting and it makes teh game more interesting and fulfilling.
Yes I own firearms, lots of them and I won't give them up. I also hunt, but I do so by stalking, all my shots have been within 50 feet for the last 25 years, either with bows when I was young and now with pistols when I didn't have time to practice my archery to my satisfaction of being able to make a guaranteed painless clean shot anymore. I sometimes bring home nothing but I always see something that makes it worthwhile or enjoy the quiet experience in nature. I also have made at least two reports each trip to authorities because I saw rednecks driving where they weren't supposed to, shooting at things out of season, etc.
I liked what teh NRA originally stood for and I love my sport and carry my sidearm when I go into the city at night just in case I meet someone that has plans to seperate me from my money or family. However, I have no need for a fully automatic AR-15, AK-47, a nightscope, handgrenades, a rocket launcher, anti flak vest bullets etc. I also don't see any real use for a 25 automatic pistol with a 1 inch barrel that cant' hit a trash can from 10 feet. Those are only good for pushing into someone's chest and dropping them at close range.
I understand giving an inch and they will take a mile but the BS level has to be drawn somewhere. There is no real threat of teh British invading anymore which is why we originally wanted an armed society other than for hunting to feed the family and most of the firearms that the NRA fights for now are not hunting rifles either.
Let the slam spam of this post begin,
Good Luck,
Lee |
