6 24 05 NRA president explains new fight for average hunter

Tuesday morning I had the honor to have breakfast with Kayne Robinson, the president of the National Rifle Association. It wasn't that we were seated across the table from each other, but rather, we were in the same room with about 500 fellow members of the Outdoor Writers Association of America in Spokane.

After the meal, Robinson presented ideas for helping "the guy at the Texaco station" to be able to continue the hunting sport. He wasn't belittling the men and women who work at Texaco gas stations, but rather using the term to relate to the average hunter.

Instead, he was explaining how the NRA was going to work toward the goal of making sure all hunters have a place to enjoy their sport.

Certainly, wealthy hunters have no problem finding a place to hunt. They have the ability to lease large parcels of land for the single purpose of pursuing one or more game animals or birds. And there is nothing incorrect or immoral about it.

But the average hunter doesn't have the ability to lease such land. They are, more often than not, regulated to public lands and most of the time hunt on the weekends. Closing roads in large sections of land hurts their ability to reach hunting areas in a reasonable time. Thus, Robinson relates, these vulnerable hunters are more inclined to stop hunting.

The NRA, as any organization should, has recognized the fact they must grow to stay alive. If the average hunters see barrier after barrier standing in the way of their sport, they are more likely to give it up.

One such barrier in today's hunting world is the tremendous amount of hunting regulations. Although he did not name the writer, Robinson said there was one who hunted in several states each year, but does not feel confident enough to hunt without a guide. The fear is not knowing about every single rule in the hunting pamphlet for every single state.

"He hunts with a guide in each state because the regulations are so complicated," Robinson said. "The laws and rules do not have to be a tiresome maze of lawyerly complexity."

The writer's actions are understandable, but sad. It's difficult enough for hunters to make sure they have a grasp of Washington's laws, so as to not violate a single one. Imagine the roadblocks involved with hunting multiple states.

Robinson scolded the NRA and other hunter and gun organizations for "being lax in our role of protecting hunter rights."

As a result, the NRA is posed to launch a movement called Free Hunters in a few weeks. The program will not only strengthen hunting in the United States, but also be assertive about hunter rights.

According to Robinson, Free Hunters will bring hunting back into the main stream of American life; will work to get more states to adopt hunters' bill of rights and right to hunt constitutional amendments; support game and habitat perpetuation; protect the rights of hunters and their interests through legislation, administrative and legal action; secure more hunting lands and places for practice; will form alliances with others to fight animal rights and eco-terrorists that are working to ban hunting and access to hunting lands.

"Our powerful searchlight will shine on good works and best practices of agencies," he said. "And it will glare on abuses."

It seemed as if the man was mad at himself at times. He, and the NRA board, have come to realize the sport of hunting is not going to be completely supported by the wealthy hunters. But rather the more numerous average hunters, "the guy at the Texaco station," are also needed to round out the hunting circle.

As a result, I expect we will see the aggressiveness of the NRA increase in the areas where average hunters are vulnerable. If the organization appears to be fighting with what seems unnecessary force, remember their perception is that they have been backed into a corner and will fight as hard as necessary to live.

"The NRA board is clear," Robinson said. "We cannot and will not be spectators to the extinction of hunting."