Posted on 02/22/2009 6:22:42 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In the foothills west of Red Bluff, Bill Gaines and I had shotguns in our hands as we hiked up a ravine.
Guns? Right there, with that word, 95 percent of the residents of the Bay Area, Sacramento and other urban areas across America might think that something bad is about to happen.
Yet if you live in a rural area, like remote Siskiyou County, rural Kansas or west Texas, you would not give this sighting a second glance.
The ownership and recreational use of firearms has become the "outdoor divide" in California and across much of America. Gaines wants to bridge this divide.
The split in California used to be North and South. No more. The split is between people who live in the country, who often own many firearms and enjoy target shooting or hunting, and people who live in cities, who tend not to own firearms and for whom any gun is an evil device used by criminals.
"I was raised in a rural area, around guns, and I was always taught to use and respect firearms," Gaines said. "I was taught they are safe. I was trained at young age how to use them, so I never feared them. I've learned that firearms are highly enjoyable and safe ... in the hands of a trained person who respects them."
Gaines is the president of the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, a pro-hunting and pro-conservation advocacy organization that he helped create three years ago. The alliance has united the political interests of 30 organizations that represent recreational shooters, hunters, firearm owners and wildlife interests.
The primary issue, over and over, has turned to firearms, urban vs. rural, he said. The biggest challenge is the gap between core beliefs.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
“Outdoor Heritage Alliance, a pro-hunting and pro-conservation advocacy organization that he helped create three years ago.”
He and the organization need some invstigation. Some phony pro hunting orgs have been set up in the past.
I’m almost surprised they still let people hunt in California.
Yep.... pro hunting ain’t always pro second amendment.
I smell a rat.
I’m surprised that they let people in California do ANYTHING except pay taxes and obedience to the almighty leftwing government.
In fairness, the last guy listed looks ok.
RICK BULLOCH
Good Job !
Thanks !
No rat with Bill. Red Bluff is just up the road a bit and I’ve been hunting around there most of my life. I’m involved with a local shooting club and archery club. Bill is exactly what he says he is.
Thanks, but I am still a bit suspicious when only hunting is mentioned. I hope this is a pro-2nd Amendment organization, also.
My ears perked up when I saw “conservationist”. I don’t trust them. I’ve seen too many of them in Montana. There goal is to tie up as much land as they possibly can.
They have infiltrated the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Trout Unlimited. I am sure someone can think of themself as a conservationist and not be aware that conservation too often means preventing harvesting of renewable resources.
I understand what you're saying, but most to most rural folks, guns mean hunting, not self protection. Very little crime ─ home invasions are unheard of here in the sticks. Unfortunately, most rural hunters have to be prodded to become aware of gun rights, as they are such a part of rural life that they are a tool, and it hard to conceive of someone banning one of your tools.
Good. They still haven't figured out I'm down here. This article will disturb the neighbors, including the lesbian in the apartment upstairs.
California needs to be broken up into four states - Coastal, Inland, Northern and Jefferson. The state no longer functions as a whole.
Anybody the Comical talks do deserves suspicion but for the most part the folks in Tehema County are good people.
Note the part of the article where they mention that lead ammunition is not allowed in some parts of the state. They haven't made it illegal yet, it's just that it's not worth the hassle.
The Teddy Roosevelt Consevation Program” is one of the groups trying to tie up land from oil drilling.
Maybe even hunting later. I see no conflict between oil drilling and hunting.
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