As Adam B noted here on DailyKos last November, this year, for the first time in seventy years, the United States Supreme Court will examine the meaning of the Second Amendment. The case stems a challenge to Washington D.C.’s ban on private ownership of handguns and onerous restrictions on the private ownership of rifles and shotguns. Last Friday, the District of Columbia filed its brief in the case.
At the American Hunters and Shooters Assocation (AHSA), which I founded, we’ll be filing an amicus brief supporting the position that the Second Amendment provides an individual right to own firearms. That, we believe, was the original intent of the Founding Fathers. However, we also support reasonable public policies, so that all Americans can enjoy the benefits of this crucial and historic liberty.
I, like most gun owners, look forward to a resolution of this case and believe the Court will support our view. You can join me in this effort by signing our petition.
We think getting the Second Amendment clarified will allow us to focus on more important issues, such as preserving our environment and keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals. It’s time to end the political games and move forward
At AHSA, we want to solve problems, not perpetuate an endless debate.
What I’ve found is that most hunters know that their gun rights aren’t going to be taken away. Just won’t happen. The fear of government, pushed by the National Rifle Association leadership and other so-called gun rights groups, is not pervasive among real hunters. We actually work closely with state governments.
We buy our hunting licenses knowing the funds go to wildlife management and we need effective management of our public lands. The kinds of guns we can carry and the times of year we can use them to hunt are all regulated and this helps keep us safe as well as ensure that our children and their children can enjoy the same hunting experiences that we love.
Unfortunately, too much time is taken up in the debate over firearms arguing the extremes. AHSA’s legislative policy will always promote the common sense interests of hunters and shooters. And, as I’ve written here on Daily Kos, hunters are environmentalists, first and foremost.
By faithful adherence to basic Second Amendment principles, while balancing the needs of our sport and the needs of our community, AHSA will promote rational and practical firearms policies that will benefit the hunters and shooters in this country while keeping our communities safe. That’s too logical for the NRA leadership, but it works for us.