Getting Our Priorities In Order

If you think it is more important to provide much needed water to human beings rather than keeping it from them in order to save a fish, visit this site and help the cause.

Tom Remington

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Update: 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause Incorporated Into 2nd Amendment

Yesterday I introduced you to a brand new story of the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision that seems to essentially take the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, specifically the “due process” clause and incorporate it into the 2nd Amendment when making decisions on gun rights cases.

I have yet to complete reading the entire ruling and far be it from me to begin to fully understand this case, the ruling and what we can expect from it in the future. There is someone, far more educated in these things than I and considerably more able to explain this.

Clayton Cramer, someone who assisted in the briefing process of the Supreme Court’s hearing of District of Columbia vs. Heller, begins to explain to his readers about Nordyke v. King.

Tom Remington

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Loss Of Jobs, No Water, No Food Because Of Endangered Species Act

Is this what the Endangered Species Act was intended for?

Tom Remington

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ESA Forces Loss Of 37,000 Jobs

Is this what the sponsors of the Endangered Species Act had in mind when they wanted to make sure we didn’t needlessly wipe out another animal or plant species?

From Hugh Hewitt, ESA attorney and property rights advocate.

Tom Remington

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The Hypocrisy Of The Left’s Animal Rights Extremists

Stumbling around and doing some research on fish, invasive species and stocking practices, if landed on this website and began reading an article posted there back in November of 2008. I read on and lo and behold I found a real gem. Such a good gem it was that I decided immediately that it would proudly receive the Black Bear Blog Golden Horse Excrement Award.

The quote comes from Noah Greenwald, a biologist representing the Center for Biological Diversity.

Let me first set the stage. A lawsuit was filed about 3 years ago in California to stop the Department of Fish and Game from stocking trout species in all waters of the state. The claim, of which the Center for Biological Diversity was part of, said that the stocked trout, being a top “predator” of aquatic species, was destroying other “natural” species, including some frogs.

That suit was settled in somewhat of a compromise in which stocking can occur in waters where none of the “threatened” species have been recorded as having lived. In other words your cesspool would be a likely place to stock some trout.

But here’s the real lunacy of groups like CBD. I should remind you that CBD is very much involved with the introduction and preservation of wolves and other large predators, i.e. grizzlies, mountain lions, etc..

In this article, here is what Greenwald said. (*Warning!* Remove everything from your mouth and go to the bathroom. I don’t want you to choke, ruin your keyboard or have an accident in your pants.)

“A trout is the top-level predator,” he told the AP. “It’s like going out in the woods and stocking a bunch of mountain lions.”

And for this display of absolute brilliance, I hereby award Noah Greenwald the Black Bear Blog Golden Horse Excrement Award.

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Don’t Forget Ruby Ridge And Lon Horiuchi

Is it greed or stupidity that would drive a gun company, H-S Precision, to hire as a spokesman Lon Horiuchi, the FBI sniper who shot and killed Vicki Weaver while she was holding her infant daughter?

Gary Marbut, President of Montana Shooting Sports Association, offers his explanation.
*Note* - Marbut indicates that readers arrived at this “explanation” page from an email being circulated. In that email, a picture of Vicki Weaver and her baby have been added to the H-S Precision “Trophy Room Gallery” linked to below.

The page the reader came from to get here is a revision suggested for the H-S Precision Website if H-S is honest and willing to make full disclosure. Maybe the management of H-S Precision should update its “Trophy Room Gallery” as indicated showing the effectiveness of its products to include their touted spokesperson’s victim.

According a to a blog at Free Republic (HERE), H-S Precision, maker of sniper rifles in South Dakota, has engaged former FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi as a company spokesperson.

Lon Horiuchi was the FBI sniper who killed Vicki Weaver while she was holding her infant daughter, during the FBI’s siege of the Weaver Home on Ruby Ridge in Idaho in 1992. According to Wikipedia, Horiuchi was also engaged as a sniper during the attack on the Branch Davidian group home in Waco, Texas in 1993.

I contacted H-S Precision on November 25th, 2008 by email to give H-S a 24-hour chance to correct the information at Free Republic, basically to assert that they have no connection with Horiuchi and the whole story is a hoax. H-S Precision failed to respond to that opportunity for clarification.

It appears that Horiuchi was engaged by H-S Precision because of his contacts at the FBI, and his ability to land a lucrative FBI contract for sniper rifles for H-S. Said differently, H-S made the business decision to associate publicly with someone seen throughout the gun culture as a villain, simply to make money. H-S made the business decision to overlook Horiuchi’s deeds and history for profit. With H-S having crossed that far over the cultural and ethical double-yellow, it is presumed that there is essentially nothing H-S won’t do for money - no other sell-out or ethically-repugnant option is beyond the pale for them.

Therefore, we wish to spread the word everywhere about what a slimy outfit H-S Precision is. We want everyone in the gun culture to be advised to shun H-S products. We want everyone in the gun culture to call their members of Congress and insist that Congress slash the FBI budget for sniper rifles. We want all other players in the firearm manufacturing business to know that we simply won’t tolerate their sell-out and ethical slumming for deliberate greed.

Other players in the business of firearm manufacture should take the high road as did Ronnie Barrett when he refused to sell Barrett products to Kalifornia law enforcement agencies after the Kalifornia Legislature banned purchase of .50 caliber rifles for law-abiding members of the public.

No quarter for H-S Precision. H-S needs to be the head mounted on the pike at the city gate. Spread the word!

Very sincerely,

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com

Tom Remington

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Do “Urbanized” Bears Live Different From “Wild” Bears?

The Wildlife Conservation Society is claiming that in a study they conducted, urbanized black bears, “weigh more, get pregnant at a younger age, and are more likely to die violent deaths”. The study involved tracking 12 so-called “urbanized” bears living around the Lake Tahoe, Nevada area for 10 years. They also tracked 10 so-called “wildland” bears in what the Science Daily described as, “outlying wild areas”.

According to what the WCS is saying, the bears in the Lake Tahoe area weighed 30% more than wildland bears, got pregnant earlier and died younger, mostly getting run over by cars.

Before we go getting out the treadmill, birth control pills and bear whistles for our cars, we need to put the study into perspective. First, how representative of the bear population is studying 12 Lake Tahoe bears and 10 area bears? We don’t know. Anytime a wildlife study is done, there are so many variables that need to be considered before any real conclusions can be made.

Secondly, we have no idea why the bears moved from the wildlands to the urban areas. Authors of the study suggested they came for the garbage. It may appear they did but without knowing the real reason they left the wildland area, we can only surmise. We know nothing about the wildland habitat, the availability of food sources, etc. during this time period.

Of course this makes for great media fodder and discussions on forums and blogs but how “scientific” is the study? With the little information made available in this one article, certainly no real conclusions can be made about the differences between the two types of bears.

Another point to make that appears in this article. The author of the article in Science Daily explains about Nevada’s existing bear population.

Right now, populations in Nevada remain steady due to bears immigrating from neighboring California.

To me this leaves unanswered a very important question that seemingly goes unaddressed in this “study”. Why are bears migrating to Nevada from California?

Tom Remington

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Approves Of Animal Slaughter

If you don’t like that headline then perhaps you should also not like one that states that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is an animal killer and an abuser. There are however a few marked differences between what some are accusing Gov. Palin of being and what I am accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of being but both bear striking similarities………..that is if you are willing to look at things from a honest perspective.

There will always be people who will have an issue with the killing of any animal and some to the extreme of any living thing whether plant or animal. We witness everyday people who ignorantly support the protection of a handful of animals while being responsible for the deaths of more than they saved. For that, I offer no cures nor do I pretend that I can in all honesty have any marked alterations to their beliefs. I expect nothing different in return either.

With that being said, we have all come to learn, some of us much sooner than others, that Alaska’s Sarah Palin is an “outdoors” person, having grown up in the wilds of Alaska learning to hunt and fish and like many of us growing up in similar geographical locations that provide us outdoor activities, it has become very much a part of our lives. Some people have a problem with that much because they didn’t grow up in it and have very little tolerance for those of us who have. Life goes on.

What Sarah Palin is being haunted by is her support of the use of planes and helicopters to manage wolf populations in a few remote areas of Alaska and some, including hunters, have a problem with that. For those Alaskan wildlife experts, whom Sarah Palin listens to for advise and recommendations, they see aerial wolf management as a bad thing but a necessary thing, albeit controversial. More on this in a moment.

Back to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Nancy Pelosi has been a U.S. Congresswoman for the state of California since 1987. She was elected as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on January 4, 2007. We can only conclude then that Speaker Pelosi approves of the slaughter of as many as 40,000 animals in the state of California from just one event!

The end of September, just about one year ago, the state of California, with the approval of the California Fish and Game Department, poured 16,000 gallons of rotenone, a chemical commonly used to kill fish, into Lake Davis in Plumas County northwest of Lake Tahoe. This action resulted in what the San Francisco Chronicle described as leaving 41,000 pounds of dead fish to be scooped out of the lake.

Some 41,000 pounds of dead fish have since been scooped from the lake at the northern headwaters of the Feather River in Plumas County. The carefully hatched plan was to kill virtually every living thing in the high Sierra lake and its tributaries, assuring that the pike would be exterminated.

The goal here was to kill unwanted species of fish in order to then be able to restore the lake to provide better recreational and fishing opportunities for California residents. In fairness here, members of the California Fish and Game Department really didn’t want to have to do this but felt it was necessary.

“No one wants chemicals dumped in their lake to kill fish and we don’t like doing it, but you have to look at the big picture,” said Steve Martarano, a spokesman for the Department of Fish and Game. “It’s something we needed to do and we gave it our best shot.”

So, where’s the outrage?

Actually, the use of rotenone to kill off what is commonly referred to as “crap” fish from waters in order to restore “game” fisheries, is perhaps more common that many of us know. Of course it doesn’t come without some disputes but the facts remain the facts. 41,000 pounds of dead fish equates to an awful lot of dead animals. Again I ask, where’s the outrage?

It’s true that California F&G spokesman Steve Martarano isn’t on the ticket with John McCain as his vice presidential nominee. It’s also true that there are fewer of those who stand up for the rights(?) of fish than do wolves. Aside from “Finding Nemo” most fish stories are about deadly sharks.

Granted there is a mysticism about the wolf, mostly because the majority of people don’t understand the animal. Their perceptions are mostly built from story books, pretty pictures and a movie or two.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I do not and would not approve of hunting, in the classic definition of what us hunters do, from an airplane, a helicopter or any other airborne mechanical device or balloon, etc.. For those that know me, they know that I even have a difficult time with the use of tree stands to hunt from and other things like bait and hounds. Most of that is because I never grew up with any of that so it isn’t a part of my hunting past.

Shooting wolves from an airplane is a tough pill to swallow no matter who you are, but as Cal. F&G spokesman said, “…you have to look at the big picture.” You also have to look at the entire picture as why Alaska feels they have to do this.

For one, the Alaska Constitution says that game animals have to be managed to provide game for its citizens, including subsistence hunting for the natives. Unless you are willing to find a way to travel into these remote areas, we have to believe that the caribou and moose populations are in danger of reaching a point where they can no longer sustain viable populations. It would be irresponsible for Alaska’s wildlife managers and the governor, to do nothing about it. They would be violating their own laws.

Secondly, these areas are remote. They are open to the hunting and trapping of wolves and other animals but it is so difficult to access, nobody will venture in to hunt a wolf because there is little value in doing so. The pelts aren’t worth that much and the cost of getting into these regions makes the effort far from worthwhile.

It is far reaching and disingenuous to state, as I have read countless times, that Sarah Palin is offering high-priced wolf hunts from airplanes in order to make money for the fish and wildlife department. If you think I’m kidding, give the Alaska Department of Fish and Game a call and tell them you want to book an aerial wolf hunt. You’ll soon discover you can’t and you’ll also find out what is involved in being able to get a permit to go on a shoot.

It’s a terrible thing to be a part of something like that but it has to be done, much the same way as killing 41,000 pounds of fish in Lake Davis, California. Is there a difference between the life of a fish and the life of a wolf?

While Alaska continues to struggle to find effective ways to control wolf populations, while protecting herds of caribou and moose, some will continue to call Sarah Palin an animal killer. That is of course their choice to do such and I assume, because this isn’t merely a political stunt, then Nancy Pelosi should also be considered an animal killer.

Wildlife management takes on many forms, much of it the vast majority of Americans are ignorant to. I could have quite easily picked on any politician from just about any state in the Union in order to show that we all contribute to the death of living things everyday. Some we refuse to look at and others we focus on.

If we can get beyond the gruesome images the animal rights groups put up and with an open and honest approach, we soon can come to realize that taking a few wolves conserves the life of many others.

Tom Remington

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Gov. Sarah Palin - She Ain’t Afraid Of No Wolves!

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin isn’t afraid of anyone or anybody when it comes to doing what is right for the people within the constitutions and laws in which we all must abide.

Forget the far left’s attempt to smear Palin and her family, a left extremism that Barack Obama and many others support, the democrats in general are attempting to make an issue about Governor Palin’s experience. It’s probably a bit objective as to whether Governor Palin has more or less “experience” than Senator Obama. The liberal media, in its support of Obama, is saying that Sarah Palin doesn’t measure up to Obama in experience and that Senator John McCain’s attack campaign against Obama’s inexperience will now backfire, as he has picked a running mate with little experience.

Isn’t it bizarre in some ways that we are even having this discussion? Those who follow Obama think he is their man. They do and say what they think is necessary to get their guy elected. McCain’s camp is doing the same thing but I see it just a bit differently.

I would give the experience nod to Palin for two reasons. One, I think her past in office has presented her with real executive decisions of which Obama has not had. Two, I personally more strongly approve of Palin’s past experience as one I would look for in a candidate. I want a real person, one that actually does remember what life is like, not just talk about it.

But let’s forget about this experience thing for a moment. Palin is fearless and I don’t think it much matters what color suit or dress the opponent is wearing. If you compare two candidates, both with equally little past experience, the kind some people seem to think is vitally important, don’t we then look at other aspects of that person in determining a winner - like character, morals, strengths and weaknesses?

I would trade you one experience card for one gutsy performer. I love a gutsy guy! I’m a sports fan and have been for years. I am always drawn to underachiever athletes who make up for perhaps some natural athletic ability by out hustling the opponent, and I mean out working them. These kinds of people are determined and fearless. It comes out in their performances.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has taken her share of grief over her position on wolf management. For those who may not know, her team of respected wildlife scientists and game commission, implemented a plan that involves the reduction of wolf populations in a very limited number of specific areas where it has been determined that wolf populations are too high and they are decimating the moose and caribou.

Alaska’s constitution demands that game animals must be managed to provide opportunities for its residents to hunt and fish. Allowing wolves in these isolated and limited areas to go unmanaged, is not only illegal but irresponsible as well. Many methods have been tried and due to the geography and other dynamics of the situation, it was decided to utilize aircraft as a tool to cull the wolf population. This has all been done within all the laws.

Palin has heard from just about every animal rights organization and has had to spend Alaskan resources fighting this decision in court but she believes that it has to be done according to law and that the majority of residents agree. A recent ballot measure proved that to be the case.

Palin has stood by her team of fish and wildlife experts and essentially told all newcomers she isn’t changing her mind. She has taken a similar stance on the recent announcement by her own republican party, that the polar bear would be listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. It takes guts to buck your own party but she has proven it doesn’t matter. I think she is a “We the People” person.

When Gov. Palin announced that the state of Alaska was going to file suit against the U.S. Department of Interior over the polar bear listing, it set off a firestorm of anger throughout the world of environmentalists. Back in May when I reported this story, Kassie Siegel from the Center for Biological Diversity, accused Gov. Palin as being either “misinformed” or “intentionally misleading”. Because Palin wasn’t interested in buying into global warming that some scientists think might create some problems for the polar bear, she did what she knew was the right thing to do even though Seigal blasted her position.

“The governor is aligning herself and the state of Alaska with the most discredited, fringe, extreme viewpoints by denying this.”

What is refreshing is that it appears the state of Alaska has a governor that holds environmental extremism in very low regard. There is nothing I would like more than to see a president and vice president, an administration and a Congress that did the same thing.

But in reality, I think Palin takes comments made about her by individuals and groups as nothing more than a pesky mosquito - a little DEET and they’ll go away.

But this all pales in comparison to how she handled California Congressman George Miller after he submitted a proposed bill that would put an end to the state of Alaska’s constitutional agreement to manage its own wildlife.

Back in September I told you what Miller was up to and how Governor Palin was handling it. One thing she did was send the honorable congressman a letter(pdf).

Here are a few choice excerpts from Gov. Palin’s letter to Rep. Miller dated September 27, 2007:

On behave of the state of Alaska, I am writing to express my displeasure with your introduction of a bill that proposes to end what you refer to as “airborne hunting” of wolves and bears in Alaska. You have misconstrued the reality of life in Alaska and the importance of wild game as food for the people of this state. You displayed a shocking lack of understanding wildlife management in the North and the true structure and function of Alaska’s predator control programs. You have threatened the very foundations of federalism and the state’s abilities to manage their own affairs as they see fit.

I am dismayed that you did not attempt to contact the state your bill affects most directly before announcing your legislation. At the very least, we could have helped you correct the many inaccuracies and misstatements of fact in both the written and the oral portions of your media presentation yesterday…………..

I am especially concerned your draft threatens the constitutionally guaranteed sovereignty not just of the state of Alaska, but all states.

In her letter, Palin quite adequately explains to Congressman Miller how much of the predator control program of Alaska works. She ends the letter this way.

With all due respect Congressman Miller, you failed to do your homework. I urge you to learn more about the realities of Alaska’s predator control program, and not to swallow the rhetoric of special interest advocacy groups trying to raise money for their inaccurate campaigns………

The wolves in this case that Governor Palin doesn’t fear are the “special interest advocacy groups” and their “inaccurate campaigns”, as well as one Congressman George Miller. In all honesty, I just can’t see her being intimidated with anyone who might be a threat to this country, whether they live in California or Tehran.

This is the kind of “experience” that you can’t put a measure to. I want a leader who will stand up to whatever and whoever threatens the constitution of this nation, our sovereignty and freedom.

Tom Remington

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Protecting Wildlife Migration Corridors

Just what in God’s name does that mean? Check out this map and hope you aren’t located in the middle of one of these “migration corridors”!

In 2007, the Western Governors’ Association, approved their resolution, “Protecting Wildlife Migration Corridors and Crucial Wildlife Habitat in the West”. Here’s the pdf version found on the WGA website.

Large intact and functioning ecosystems, healthy fish and wildlife populations, and abundant public access to natural landscapes are a significant contributing factor to the West’s economic and in-migration boom as well as quality of life. Critical wildlife migration corridors and crucial wildlife habitats are necessary to maintain flourishing wildlife populations.

Sounds wonderful to me! But maybe not so wonderful if you happen to be in one of these designated “wildlife corridors”. It also sounds like for hunters and fishermen, this should guarantee access to land and opportunities to hunt and fish forever. Ummmm……maybe not! Better look more closely.

After approving the resolution, the group set out to write “The Western Governors’ Association Wildlife Corridors Initiative”. This more precisely spells out for us about these wildlife corridors and how they are going to “maintain flourishing wildlife populations” among other promises. Here’s the pdf version of the 142-page “Wildlife Corridors Initiative”. The “Initiative” was approved this past June.

Who better suited to decide how wildlife corridors and what can and cannot be done with land designated as “protected” wildlife corridors than groups representing the five following fields? Gas and Oil, Energy, Transportation Infrastructure, land use and climate change. I guess they got all their bases covered, especially when it comes to us scum-of-the-earth hunters and fishermen.

If you want to get a head start reading about this movement, masquerading as a “save the wildlife” group, go ahead and download the reports and read them for yourself. If you don’t want to do that, I have another idea for you.

Some of you have probably heard me speak of my friend George Dovel in Idaho. George is the editor of his highly successful print magazine, “The Outdoorsman”. George promises in the next issue he is going to delve into this fiasco and I’ll guarantee it will be good. George asks his readers, “if they can handle the truth?”

So, here’s what you need to do. Click on this link and you’ll find a printable subscription application for your own one-year subscription to The Outdoorsman. The cost is $20.00 for one year. It’ll be the best $20.00 you’ll spend this year.

The form is very short. All you need to do is print it out, fill it out and send it, along with $20.00 to The Outdoorsman. I get my copy on a regular basis and I have never learned so much as what I have gotten from this publication.

Don’t think it’s just for Idaho and western readers either. George covers a multitude of subjects and even the ones that focus on local issues, could be written about anyone’s state.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Tom Remington

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Third Coyote Attack In Five Days

Pay attention people in San Bernardino County, California, those cute and cuddly little coyotes are playing a little rough with the kids at Alterra Park.

Tom Remington

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A Nonexistent Squirrel Preventing Solar Energy Plans

I have been called a lot of things for my stance against the current administering of the Endangered Species Act. This includes the abuse through manipulation, the interpretation of the ESA through the courts, the abuse of it in order to stop hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities as well as the lack of any effort to change or eliminate it in order to provide a better means of accomplishing its initial goals. I have also been called colorful things because I think environmentalist, including animal rights groups, have completely gone off the radar and I have minced no words in saying so.

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, the RINO (republican in name only) governor of California, thinks the whackos have gone too far. You know it has to be bad when one of California’s own thinks so.

“It’s not just businesses that have slowed things down, it’s not just Republicans that have slowed things down, it’s also Democrats and also environmental activists sometimes that slow things down,”

These comments come from the governor in response to delays in the construction of solar energy generating facilities. One is particular is the one near Victorville, where environmentalists are adding delays to the construction because of the Mojave ground squirrel - a rare squirrel that doesn’t even live on any of the land to be used.

“Our Department of Fish and Game is slowing approval of a solar facility in Victorville. It’s because of an endangered squirrel, an endangered squirrel which has never been seen on that land where they’re supposed to build the solar plants. But if such a squirrel were around, this is the kind of area that it would like, they say.”

You read that correctly! Here we have a case of no threatened animal even living on this land and yet because the weirdos think the habitat is good enough for the squirrel, that’s reason enough. This is one classic example of what is wrong with our environmental laws, the Endangered Species Act, the interpretation and administration of the Act and proof all this needs to be changed.

For those who still believe that there’s nothing wrong with the Endangered Species Act and who think that the environmentalists are right in this, why don’t you head on out to California. I’m sure those squirrels are in need of a few more “nuts”.

Tom Remington

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Henny Youngman Might Say, “Take My Wolves…..Please!”

It might be an understatement to say that there’s a conflict brewing between U.S. Congressman George Miller of California and U.S. Congressman Don Young of Alaska. The battle stems from issues over wolf management in Alaska.

The state of Alaska, under the direction of the Alaska Board of Game and with the approval of Gov. Sarah Palin, is using aircraft to reduce the wolf population in specific areas where they are destroying the moose and caribou herds that supply native Alaskans with food. Animal lovers don’t like this and have been fighting the effort for some time. One of the radical groups involved is Defenders of Wildlife, of which it appears that Mr. Miller is a strong advocate for.

Rep. Miller is also the sponsor of HR3663(pdf), the misleading “Protect America’s Wildlife Act of 2007″, which is being promoted as a bill to stop aerial hunting of wolves. Rep. Young has pointed out on several occasions that there are already laws on the books that prohibit hunting from the air and that what is going on in Alaska is a necessary wildlife management tool - a tool that is not understood by those unfamiliar with Alaska, the area and the difficulty the geography of the region presents, along with the needs of native Alaskans.

Last Tuesday, Congressman Young, a ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources, sent out a “Dear Colleague” letter giving his reasons why his colleagues in Washington should oppose HR3663. In the process, he spells out quite clearly what he thinks of Miller’s bill and his friends at Defenders of Wildlife.

We are now witnessing firsthand one of the most cynical, disingenuous, and misleading fund-raising campaigns ever to be launched by a radical environmental group. Center stage in their campaign is Rep. George Miller’s H.R. 3663, the Wolves are Cute Act, which would end the State of Alaska’s Aerial Predator Management Program.

Young, like so many others, believe that Defenders of Wildlife, along with just about every other animal advocate group, have become so greedy to have money at their disposal to pay big salaries and keep their machine running, they now have to hand select the project they will lie, cheat and steal over, in order to be better able to play on the emotions of people to weasel money out of them.

In their efforts to muster support for H.R. 3663 while raising thousands of dollars in donations, Defenders of Wildlife have been busy inundating unsuspecting Americans throughout the country with emotional photos and inaccurate information about Alaska’s Predator Control Program.

After a plea from Mr. Young to his colleagues to take the time to better understand the truth of what’s going on in Alaska, he offers up a proposal of his own, albeit not the first time something like this has been tried.

Since the sponsor of H.R. 3663 seems to have such a deep love for wolves, and now that the Defenders of Wildlife have raised well over $100,000 on the animals’ behalf, I propose that Defenders use that money to gather Alaska’s surplus wolves and safely transport them to the seventh district of California.

This proposal is a win-win for everyone, and I would suggest my colleagues present it to Defenders of Wildlife representatives roaming the Capitol this week.

A reader here at the Black Bear Blog alerted me to the fact that Mr. Young’s proposal isn’t the first. I did a little research and found out that back in 2000, then Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho, a state that got wolves dumped on its front door step with the support of Congress back in 1995, suggested that wolves also be reintroduced into New York’s Catskill Mountains.

Part of Mr. Simpson’s motivation is to give New York representatives a taste of their own medicine. Like most Republicans from the West, he resents how Eastern members of Congress pad their environmental records with bills that restrict the use of Western public lands. In 1995, U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents released Canadian wolves in the wilderness of his southern Idaho district. This brought loud protests from nearly all of the state’s politicians. Representative Simpson argues that restoring endangered wolves to the East is as important as saving them in the West.

I first learned of this proposal by Young while reading Amy Ridenour’s National Center Blog, which is part of the National Center for Public Policy Research.

Having communicated before with Kevin Kennedy, a member of the Republican Professional Staff of the House Committee on Natural Resources, I sent him an email for more information. He sent along some links where the “Dear Colleague” letter was getting some attention in the media.

Mary Ann Akers’ “Sleuth” blog at the Washington Post has some coverage. She says Young is sending “shockingly graphic e-mail letters to his colleagues with gory photos” and likens it to “the tactics of extreme anti-abortion literature.” Not surprising that animal lovers and those who have never witnessed the realities of a wolf attack would compare it to that of abortions, of which they probably haven’t witnessed either. Notice it’s always a comparison of animals with humans, putting us on the same level.

Kennedy also gave me a link to a story which I had already read and was holding for just the right occasion. The Anchorage Daily News is reporting that residents, living in and around the same areas where the Alaska Board of Game is trying to reduce wolf numbers, are asking Alaska officials to overturn the current ban prohibiting the natives from killing wolf pups in their dens.

This is sure to stir a hornets nest and become excellent fodder for the money hungry wolf/predator advocate groups. They would like nothing more than plaster a photograph of the world’s cutest little puppy wolf dog all over in order to convince you to give them your money. This from a group claiming to care for animals yet seem to care not at all for the moose and caribou or your pet. In order to protect those predators, they tell people who have lost their pets to either move to the city or suck it up and get used to living where the wolves do - they were there first attitude.

As an excellent point of history and education, the same article points out that this was a necessary practice from many years ago in order for the natives to manage their food resources, something our society here in the lower 48 has no interest in, nor do they choose to believe it even exists. Maybe they just don’t care.

Many of the Yup’ik hunters who once controlled wolves in Western Alaska have died, but their stories have passed down, Roczicka said. People who are still alive today often share those stories, including members of Orutsararmuit, Roczicka said.

The natives are saying that if the aerial wolf management program doesn’t work or opponents become successful in stopping the killing of the wolves, they for sure will be seeking approval of this den killing as a necessary means of feeding their families.

Of course this suggestion is vehemently opposed by the conservationists/preservationists.

“We’re fervently opposed to it,” said John Toppenberg, director with Alaska Wildlife Alliance. “It’s been illegal in Alaska for a long time and deservedly so. It’s a Stone Age concept of wildlife management and has no place as a management tool for civilized people. It’s just barbaric.”

Mr. Toppenberg may think its a Stone Age thing, that’s barbaric and has no place in his society but they don’t live in his world. Sorry! Any rationally thinking person would have to ask themselves why there wasn’t a problem with wolf numbers and subsistence animals back when these “barbarians” were handling wildlife management on their own?

I don’t think that Mr. Miller will take Mr. Young up on his offer to transport the extra Alaska wolves to California but Young is trying to make his point even though some don’t like to deal in realities. Much like in 2000 when Rep. Simpson suggested to bring wolves to New York, it didn’t take long to pile up all the excuses and reasons wolves wouldn’t be good in their back yards but looked awfully precious in some unknown rancher’s back yard in Idaho, Montana or Wyoming.

There are just too many people now in this country that can’t see beyond the end of their noses. They may step into the hallway of their mid-town multi-million dollar apartment and see a neighbor and never speak to them. Or, another person walks out of their cabin, hut or shack in Aniak, Alaska wondering where their next meal may come from. The problem is both of these people are real people. They are somebody’s family, humans with needs, albeit quite different. They have a lifestyle they have chosen for whatever the reasons. I may not like the idea of someone killing wolf pups in order to survive but I am still human enough to understand, appreciate and respect that these are people. This is what they know. This is what they choose to be a part of and cannot and will not attempt to force my ideals on them.

I am also one of many millions of other human beings on this earth that place the importance of the human far above that of an animal. I read a comment left by a reader of the Washington Post article in which they asked the question.

“Who do you love more - WOLVES OR PEOPLE?”

This is a far cry from the question asked at the beginning of “The Sleuth’s” blog. She sees the entire effort by Young as a means of protecting his pet dog, proving the point that I don’t think she gets it either. She asks:

Who do you love more - dogs or wolves?

Are humans of lesser value?

Tom Remington

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ISE Sacramento Prepares for Exciting 21st Year!

Sacramento, CA
January 17-20, 2008 (Thursday to Sunday)

Cal Expo, California State
Fairgrounds
1600 Exposition Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
www.calexpo.com

This is the grand-daddy of Northern California sportsmen shows and it just gets better and better. For 2008 there will be more exhibitors with more fishing, hunting and outdoor equipment. The halls will be brimming with adventure travel destinations and show priced gear.

Come out and discover all that’s new at this year’s show. With nearly 600 exhibitors, ISE Sacramento has all the gear, travel and experts you need.

Sacramento ISE contains northern California’s largest fishing boat show. With more than 15 dealers representing at least 25 lines of bass and sportfishing boats from the world’s top marine manufacturers.

The Western Outdoor News weekend Youth Outdoor Fair–the largest event of its kind in the Western United States–returns to the Expo Halls beginning Friday at 3:0 pm and running all Saturday and Sunday with more and new hands-on experiences for kids 12 and younger.

We’re still bringing in more exhibitors, experts and professionals

Show Dates:	January 17-20, 2008 (Thursday to Sunday)
Show Hours:	Thursday and Friday, Noon to 9:00 pm Saturday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location:	Cal Expo, California State Fairgrounds 1600 Exposition Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95815 www.calexpo.com
Tickets:	$12.00 General Admission Free - Children 12 years and under Get your tickets online now! Buy tickets in advance for you, family and friends. All tickets are valid for admission on one day only.
Parking:	$7 per car
Seminars & Events:	Learning is just part of the fun at ISE Sacramento. Now you can share your opinion on both hunting and fishing, too. Here are several show highlights: NEW Plight of Our Fisheries Summit. Join us Saturday at 1pm in the California Sportsmen Theater to learn how you can fight for fishing’s future! Panelists include: Assemblyperson Lois Wolk; Jim Martin, former Oregon Chief of Fisheries; John Beuttler, CA Sportfishing Protection Alliance; Dan Bacher, Editor of the Fish Sniffer, and Dick Pool, Water4Fish. USAfishing.com’s Mike Aughney will moderate. NEW Hunting Under Fire Summit, with former Senator Rico Oller, Moderator, and panelists: Senator Dennis Hollingsworth; Assemblyman Doug la Malfa; California Fish & Game Commissioner Jim Kellogg; Bill Gaines, President, California Outdoor Heritage Alliance; and Sam Perades, Executive Director, Gun Owners of California. Help preserve your hunting heritage: 2:30 on Saturday at the Eastmans’ Journals Adventure Theater). NEW GPS and sportfishing-gear classes, presented by Garmin and hosted by Johnson Hicks, in Building D. Scheduled for Friday from 1-2, and Saturday from 11-noon. NEW Taste of the Outdoors cooking theater, also in Building D. NEW Survival 101 tips and stories from survival and outdoor-safety authority and author Greg Davenport. Dutch oven cooking demonstrations, classes and new contest, located outside near Building D (white tent). Rock-crawler demos on the giant mountain, presented by 4Wheel Parts. New faces and topics at the California Sportsmen Theater, hosted by Sep Hendrickson; at the Eastmans’ Journals Adventure Theater; and at the Fly-Fishing/Tying Theater, too. Get your fishing and hunting licenses–5% savings–and expert information at the California Department of Fish & Game pavilion. The Ultimate Bass Demonstration Tank, hosted by Kent Brown of Ultimate Bass radio, features seminars by California’s top professional anglers. Splash Dogs jumping contest is back with great entertainment for the whole family and includes ISE’s new Western Championship Series. Bring the kids to the Youth Outdoor Sports Fair (opens Friday at 3pm), presented by Western Outdoor News. This giant special event is located at Expo Center, near the show’s West Entrance. This year’s Fair offers new interactive displays from California Fish & Game. Check out the show schedule.
Contests & Competitions:	And whether you like to watch the experts, or test your own skills be sure to catch all the exciting competitions this year. See the exciting Best of the West Distance Fly Casting Competition Elk callers can participate in ISE’s Elk Calling Competition, presented by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The Splash Dogs are back. Get full details and schedule at Splashdogs.com. Get contest details and rules.
Exhibitors:	You’ll find the gear, adventure and information you need at many of the nearly 600 exhibitors at the ISE Sacramento show. If you’re interested in selling your outdoor product or service, click for more information on becoming an ISE ExhibitorView the alphabetical list of this year’s exhibitors.
Promotional Partners:	Check out our promotional partners. These sportsman-related businesses provide valuable prizes, gifts, incentives and other promotional items for ISE shows. We thank each one for their support. Please visit these partner websites for more information about their products and services.

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The Pendulum May Be Swinging Back Toward More Gun Rights

You have to wonder what affect, if any, the decision first by a District Court of Appeals to rule the District of Columbia’s ban on handguns was unconstitutional and then the Supreme Court of the United States agreeing to hear that appeal, has to do with other judges and courts ruling against gun bans. Is it now becoming “in style” to rule against gun control? Does this have anything to do with an election year coming up?

It was announced yesterday that in California, of all places, a Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that San Francisco’s gun ban was invalid because it was a preemption of state law. In other words, Proposition H, voted in by the residents of San Francisco in November of 2005, was a law that was declared invalid by the Court because the city can’t ban guns because the state allows them.

The judge in this case, Judge Ignazio Ruvolo, said that the city failed to show that banning guns would only affect criminals and that by banning the guns would affect every citizen who has a constitutional right to own a gun.

This is great news for Americans and hopefully another indication that the courts are beginning to understand what it is the majority of Americans want - their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Tom Remington

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