Re: Ron Force's summation

[Erikus4@aol.com]

> The issue is, of course, the rapidly dwindling proportion of the public
> that is interested in hunting, and the changing demographics of the
> state. It's one more case in which people feel their "traditional
> culture" is threatened, and are attempting to lock their practices in
> law permanently, before it's too late. 

Whether it reflects badly on me or not, I'll agree with your statement.  (It
isn't necessarily traditional culture, though.)

I hunt.  I've hunted for the past 5 years or so for deer and elk.  I've yet to
be successful, but it hasn't spoiled anything for me.  I've seen more of
nature than many people, possibly most, will ever see.  I've followed tracks
of animals I'm not even hunting just to possibly catch a glimpse of them.
I've been on the mountain as the sky starts its ascent into the sky and brings
everything to life.  My dad remembers seeing wolves running free in Idaho back
in his hunting days.  I've seen bears - bears have seen me...  I've
participated in nature as much as I've been able.

My enjoyment hurts no one.  Admittedly, you can do all of the same things
without hunting, and I do some of that also - but it isn't like hunting.

And in a country founded on freedom and liberty - where your rights end where
the rights of other begin, why should we constantly be under the threat of
having those rights reduced or eliminated?  (Furthermore and more practically,
in a country with a food supply based on raising-for-slaughter, why the heck
shouldn't we be able to go obtain meat, a different type of meat even, from
Nature.  Nothing contradictory in that.)

I do everything my government asks of me.  I served in the military.  I pay
taxes.  I vote.  But the uneducated, often ignorant opinions of the "majority"
often make the future seem damn bleak indeed.

Nothing worse than losing rights which never hurt another person.

There's a quotation that goes something like:  Freedom is the one thing you
cannot have, unless you are willing to give it to others.  

If someone is opposed to hunting, fine.  I respect that and it is their right
to believe so.  But tolerate hunting.  I'm sure there are aspects of that
person that I don't agree with, but I don't piss and moan about them because
they are free to do as they wish also.

A lot of people seem to think they are truly happy only when they limit the
freedoms of other people.  It seems to be the American way.

Regards.

E. O'Daniel