POLITICS - Another tree-hugger halucination

[86er]

Okay, everyone, have your air sickness bags ready before reading this "greenie weenie" gloat over the recent USFW survey results.


Protecting wildlife, habitat by promoting a peaceful world
The Pilot-Independent
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 26th, 2007 03:21:51 PM


If wildlife could read, they would be overjoyed with Babe Winkelman's recent column about the decline in the popularity of hunting and fishing within Minnesota and also nationwide. While some may attribute the decline to Americans not being as "outdoorsy" as we used to be, others are coming to the realization that violence disguised as recreation is nonetheless violence and as such is wholly unacceptable. As Shakespeare said "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
The state Department of Natural Resources is concerned about this downward spiral because it is funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, as well the excise taxes affixed to the cost of weapons, ammunition, and hunting/fishing equipment. In an attempt to increase the number of hunters and anglers in the state, the DNR is attempting to promote the sport through special youth hunts and a new "hunter apprentice" program.
But instead of promoting hunting, the DNR should recognize that sport hunting is a sinking ship and rather than trying to make it seaworthy, it should be abandoned in favor of a new kind of look toward the future. Even DNR officials have been quoted in the Pilot-Independent as saying "Hunters and anglers are the heart and soul of the North American wildlife management model, and unfortunately now that model is broken."
As the number of hunters in Minnesota has been declining over the past 10 years, the number of wildlife watchers has increased by more than 30 percent. There are now more Minnesotans than ever before who participate in observing, feeding and photographing wildlife in their natural habitat.
The DNR has been presented with a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of this veritable army of wildlife watchers who can help preserve wildlife and habitat for years to come — all that is needed is for the DNR to shift its focus away from hunting and fishing and toward wildlife watching. Let's repeal the tax on weapons and ammunition and replace it with a similar tax on items such as binoculars, backpacks, cameras and other outdoor-related equipment used by wildlife watchers.
The funds collected can be dedicated toward the protection and preservation of wildlife and the areas where they live, making the need to depend on hunting, weapons and violence obsolete.
In doing this, the Department of Natural Resources can protect wildlife and habitat and ensure its own survival in the process. To protect wildlife and habitat while promoting a more peaceful world, please visit www.wildwatch.org.
Joe Miele, vice president
Wildlife Watch, Inc., New Paltz, NY

[BlaineCGarverakaTubbyTuba]

Well, it IS for the children, isn't it?

[Jason_W]

Lame

What a bunch of limp wristed sally boys.

Humans are part of nature and nature is not some Eden like utopia. It's unfeeling and efficient. Things die and are killed constantly.

Would these bleeding heart wildlife watchers enjoy seeing deer die slowly in the winter kill? How about predators killing prey?

[gamekeeper]

What a load of old "Cods Wallop" unfortunatley England is already full of such do gooders. I hope every one who hunts or goes fishing in the USA takes a "newbie" out once in a while.

[FWiedner]

If wildlife could read, they would quickly become aware that a tree-hugging dumb-butt by any other name is still just a dumb-butt.

[Jason_W]

I'm not sure that "tree hugger" is the right term for these people. Naive and out of touch sad sacks who believe in the Disney version of nature is more appropriate.

In many ways I'm a tree hugger in that I would rather open land stay open land rather than turn into a housing development or strip mall.

[FWiedner]

In many ways I'm a bunny-hugger, but they are always bleeding and limp when in my loving embrace...

[AmBraCol]

Well, don't be to quick to jump all over them. There IS a piece of good stuff in spite of the idiocy and ignorance. Like we say around here, "eat the corn and toss the cob" - and that's mostly cob there but for a couple of kernels that are well worth latching onto:

Let's repeal the tax on weapons and ammunition and replace it with a similar tax on items such as binoculars, backpacks, cameras and other outdoor-related equipment used by wildlife watchers.

Now that there makes sense. Weapons and ammunition were never meant to be taxed to support wildlife. Most of us on this forum are either hunters or friendly to hunters. But we too often forget that the Second Amendment to the US Constitution is NOT about Bambie or Daffie or Thumper - it's about the possession of weapons to ensure that the government HAS to listen to the citizens. When the 2nd Amendment says "...shall not be infringed." we need to pay attention. I agree that the tax on weapons and ammunition "should be repealed" and if folks want to finance wildlife programs by taxing binoculars, backpacks, hiking shoes, walking sticks, cross country skis, thermal underwear, broad brimmed hats, Birkenstock sandels and such, well hop to it! Roll that tax away from the weapons (where it is an infringement of our right to keep and bear arms) and hit the other industries with it. You'll take in more taxes, share the burden more fairly and get rid of an anti constitutional tax in the process.

[J Miller]

What AmBraCol said ^^^^^ . I'm all for it.

Joe

[Grizz]

imagine that, bragging about depriving wildlife of their privacy going up 300%. a bunch of twisted voyeurs if ya ask me, little different than child molesters. and he wants to tax binoculars so the peeping toms can invade animal privacy even more efficiently. Sake's alive..,

[Caco]

The present population of wildlife presents a economic load for agriculture and safety issue for driving. So not everyone will be happy with the results There Could be good economic news for anyone coming up with a contraceptive wildlife pill
Very uneducated not to be able to see the pitfalls
Dave

[Ysabel Kid]

86er -

Thank you for the warning beforehand...