The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting D.C. Roll Call What AR members are going May 8 for SCI Lobby Day?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| D.C. Roll Call What AR members are going May 8 for SCI Lobby Day? | Login/Join |
| One of Us |
Wondering who of this esteemed forum are travelling to DC for SCI Lobby Day? This will be my first lobby effort for hunting issues, but I have years of experience with my professional issues. Should be interesting. Jeff | ||
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One of Us |
Jeff, as you know I will be there too. Same situation as you, I have done this a number of times in connection with work-related issues, but this is the first time I have done face-to-face lobbying on hunting or sporting issues. I look forward to speaking my mind. Mike | |||
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| One of Us |
I will be there. | |||
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Good for you gents, we all very much applaud your effort Give them hell " Until the day breaks and the nights shadows flee away " Big ivory for my pillow and 2.5% of Neanderthal DNA flowing thru my veins. When I'm ready to go, pack a bag of gunpowder up my ass and strike a fire to my pecker, until I squeal like a boar. Yours truly , Milan The Boarkiller - World according to Milan PS I have big boar on my floor...but it ain't dead, just scared to move... Man should be happy and in good humor until the day he dies... Only fools hope to live forever “ Hávamál” | |||
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Last week I joined SCI, signed up for the SCI Lobby Day, and booked my flights. I cannot afford the time away from work and I hate spending the money but it is time to stand up for what I believe. | |||
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| Administrator |
+1 | |||
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| One of Us |
A huge thank you for this effort ! You men are certainly stepping up to the plate.  "If you are not working to protect hunting, then you are working to destroy it". Fred Bear | |||
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| One of Us |
Thank you all for attending. | |||
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| One of Us |
Thanks all! . | |||
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| <Boone & Crockett> |
I will be there. | ||
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I just can't get there on that date as much as I tried to change my schedule. Good luck to those who go...if another day comes up...I will join in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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| One of Us |
5 out of 46,186 members ain't a real good percentage. | |||
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| One of Us |
The sad reality is that out of 1000 hunters, 100 actually care. Of those 100, 10 will take the time to write a letter or make a call. Of those 10, just a handful will contribute money to help fight the problem and perhaps one will actually take the time to attend a rally, go to DC, other. Face it, the other side brings far more passion to the fight than we do. It should come as no surprise that we end up getting our butts whipped. Mike | |||
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Good luck in DC and hopefully reason can prevail - unlikely given its DC and dealing with politicians and professional government types. Its tough to get the average american hunter all fired up about elephant hunting 10,000 miles away and where the average hunt often costs more than the average US hunters annual household income. Lets hope reason prevails. Mike | |||
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It's hard to get the average hunter fired up period . . . forget about elephant. They are happy to complain and bitch, but when it comes to action they look a lot like statues. Harsh, but that is reality. Mike | |||
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Right you are. | |||
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I am more and more impressed and amazed with what the NRA has been able to achieve as a single purpose political organization. Mike | |||
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| One of Us |
Guys, I spent the last 5 years working my ass off with Aaron Neilson trying save lion hunting which is still yet to be determined. The majority of the membership here either fought against us or just didn't care at first...slowly the tides began to ebb and we won over most and the ones that did not agree at least learned about the lion. Having been there and done this before...I am going to tell you this rally is going to do little in the big scheme of things. First thing that has to be done is to get organized with facts and figures. Know what you are talking about and what the real problems are for the ele. Next...find some scientists that understand "real-life" ele management...get them on your side. Third...set a plan of action to makes things better. Just going and telling them that leaving status quo is good enough is not going to cut it. Fourth...write down a plan of action and get the PH orgs and scientists to endorse and get behind it. Then...begin to sell your strategy to USF&W. Then get your congressmen to pressure your plan. It seems that this rally is really going off half cocked. A rally takes a lot of people to look important. When you are few...make yourself look big by building a smart coalition and working behind the scenes. Be big with knowledge and solutions...at least potential ones.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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| Administrator |
May be, just may be, SCI has alienated a lot of its members due to their past performance. Also, what lane has stated above might be right. I read some of the USFWS responses, and they seem to think they have done all their homework before making this decision - as far as their are concerned!!?? Of course, them having never listened to reason before, does not help us at all. | |||
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| One of Us |
Lane, This is not a "rally". This is an SCI Lobby day. The timing is concurrent with elephant importation closure. We need far reaching hunter alliance. Not single issue or single species lobbying efforts. If all hunters don't unite in some form it will all end. Dominoes. Maybe it will take a hue and cry about whitetail hunting in the US to galvanize folks. The few of us that have chosen to go to DC are taking the best course of action avaiable to us on short notice. Saeed, If the US is eliminated from the African hunting market there won't be an African hunting market. While you continue to deride SCI at least some action is being taken. Certainly I am no fan of their inner circle crap, but in all honesty AR could have organized something in DC but no one stepped up. Jeff | |||
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| One of Us |
I have a pre arranged call schedule to deal with. I cannot be there for the event, and while I wrote to my representatives (and President Obama) about this issue, other than acknowledging receipt of my correspondence, I have heard nothing. Somehow I really doubt Al Franken, or Amy Kloubachar would really give a rat's behind what I or other hunters have to say anyhow on this issue (with Minnesota being what it is, they MIGHT listen to a fishing issue... but still vote party line.) I am more than happy to contribute what I can. I did make some "emergency contributions" in addition to writing. I hope that this lobbying effort has some success. Good luck guys. | |||
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| One of Us |
For those that are prepared to declare defeat before the battle is even fully engaged, I guess the USFWS modifying the ban to allow the importation of trophies for hunts done in 2014 prior to the original order date, that was just due to the largess of the USFWS and had nothing to do with the efforts of SCI, DSC, Conservation Force and others to date. Instead of being critical of SCI, critical of the tactics, critical that the efforts are an exercise in futility, . . . do something. I asked to put a petition on AR for folks to sign and was turned down. I asked to have the SCI link for writing to Congress pinned at the top of this forum and never heard back. I candidly believe some would rather have the situation in the crapper and use that as an excuse to assign blame and stir the pot than make a positive contribution to address the issue. Mike | |||
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| Administrator |
I am the Moderator on this forum, and I have never heard from you?? | |||
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| One of Us |
Check your PM's from April 5 and again on April 8. Mike | |||
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One of Us |
Mike, It seems to me, that by your constant criticism of anyone and everyone who doesn't stand high atop a mountain and cry for conservation, you are claiming moral high ground. If my memory serves me, you just recently became active in an SCI chapter? If I'm wrong, I will stand corrected. I spent 11 years on the BOD of the Phoenix Chapter. Myself and about 6-8 other did most of the heavy lifting, that is SOP in every chapter. But please, just because you are fully engaged in this doesn't mean those of us at home don't care as much as everyone else who makes the trip. The other side wins because, they are always cohesive. Take Hillary, the left has already elected her. They stand firm, shoulder to shoulder. The right, well, we have at least 6-7 guys. Everyone has their favorite, whether it's Paul, Rubio, Perry, or whoever. we don't stand as one as the other side ALWAYS does. This fight is no different. Killing Elephants and Lions will never, ever be OK with rank and file America. Facts hold little merit in this argument. But bless you all for making the trip. and best of luck Steve , Formerly "Nganga" | |||
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| Administrator |
Mike, Don answered you on that PM, and he was right in his answer. Why have you refrained from contacting SCI or DSC?? | |||
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| One of Us |
Nice try. As others on the Forum are aware, I have been in contact with both SCI and DSC, and have found both to be forthcoming and open to suggestions. Frankly, I would rather devote my efforts in that direction since they are trying to proactively address the situation than bickering unconstructively here. I do appreciate that AR is a great vehicle for disseminating the word on issues like this, and I appreciate you making that tool available. Mike | |||
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| One of Us |
Mike, if your comment was aimed at me- I think that overall the political process is responsive to some degree. Some people will see it our way, some will see it the other, and a few will be on the fence. If you are not a constituent, while some congresscritters might be glad to have someone who supports their position talk to them, I really doubt if I talk to a guy from WI or MI they really care what I say if they are on the fence. I have to work in November to see that we get someone who is on our side, or at least on the fence. My US Rep is someone who I think might be on the fence; but my senators ain't. It's not party affiliation, although both parties have their tendencies. I just have dealt with both of those two enough to know they are committed ideologues. | |||
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I for one prefer to go down swinging. | |||
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| Administrator |
Mike, Sadly, your PM does not reflect the above??! | |||
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| One of Us |
Jeff, Make no mistake about it. I am firmly united with all hunters and always have been. Just giving an opinion. I will fight for our rights to hunt when most have given up. Had it been possible...I would attend this...for whatever effect it might have. After you have attended the "lobby session" and had the actual experience of "lobbying"...I will ask your opinion then. Effective lobbying is like going to a trade day. To get something...you must have something to give. They prefer a check...but will sometimes accept knowledge that will get them popularity and votes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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| One of Us |
Lane, I have brought this up several times with little to no response. How do we unite duck hunters and elephant hunters? Until some vehicle is formed or existing one is enhanced that reaches the level of fervor of the NRA we are sitting ducks...sorry. Jeff | |||
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| One of Us |
And no reason that it would or should. I still wonder why you would not at least pin the SCI outreach thread to the top, I even wrote and provided you the text for you to do that. I am sure that is at least as important to the future of hunting as your hunt report from last year. Mike | |||
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| One of Us |
Two things, First and foremost, look to the NRA model. Many shooters did not like the "AR fad". But, the NRA was able to convince its members that an attack on "black rifles" was the same as an attack on there single-shot .22 . Second...you have to get the pure wing of the science and research community behind you...giving yourself credence with scientific facts. For us...it is leg we MUST stand on to fight the emotion factor of the left . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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| one of us |
I wonder what it would cost to make an informative hunting conservation TV commercial? Perhaps that could be very effective in reaching out to all sorts of people. | |||
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| <Boone & Crockett> |
Good Morning Folks, While visiting with the SCI rep on the phone yesterday, I asked a question of how many members are confirmed for the lobby. The answer made me a bit mad and sad at the same time. 70 was the number supplied as of yesterday afternoon. I know people contribute in many many different ways (and believe every action/penny counts) but this number just seems mighty low... | ||
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| One of Us |
I agree with you 100%. I am busier than hell right now. I have no time for much of anything but work. This is important enough that I am going to head to Washington. If we sit around and do nothing, we are going to lose. Wars are rarely won with the first shot. I don't expect the USFWS to roll over after the event in DC. However, I expect they will know that there will be a battle. I am very disappointed at the turnout for this event. Like SCI or not, at least they are trying. I can't believe a single one of us has any issue with the cause in this case yet a total of approximately 70 have signed up from SCI's ranks including 5 here on AR. | |||
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| one of us |
If we are losing the fight it is not because we are not many or we dont show up on lobby day but it is because we are stupid,IMO. | |||
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| Administrator |
Mike, This is what you have written in your PM. "...I thought about going to SCI or DSC, but frankly I suspect I could not get SCI's attention and with groups like DSC you never really know what other agendas they have. I think if we could get it started there is some chance they might join in though..." The above is diametrically opposite to what you have posted above regarding the answers you are getting from both SCI and DSC. AR has done plenty for conservation, we just don't scream our heads about what we are doing. If you wish to glorify SCI at the expense of denigrating AR, be my guest. I find this rather sad! AR is free, we don't charge anyone anything. At the same time we do help with conservation where we think it is of any help. SCI charges the hunting community millions of dollars per year, and each time we ask where the money is going, we get no answer. Is it any surprise that not many people have answered SCI's call for action now?? | |||
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