Not as contradictory as it might seem.
This diary though not directly about our second amendment does attempt to show the huge, unrivaled, contribution that gun owners and shooters make to wildlife preservation in the United States via a little known excise tax. Since 1937 the Pittman Robertson Act has been directing a large tax on gun and ammo sales (roughly 11%) towards reintroducing and saving species, conserving habitat, and managing wildlife. Changes to the law also taxed archery equipment as well as handguns. Gun owners and shooters have saved more wildlife than any other conservation group, and they've been doing it for a longer time.
Buena Vista CO and how
RKBA is a DKos group of second amendment supporters who also have progressive and liberal values. We don't think that being a liberal means one has to be anti-gun. Some of us are extreme in our second amendment views (no licensing, no restrictions on small arms) and some of us are more moderate (licensing, restrictions on small arms.) Moderate or extreme, we hold one common belief: more gun control equals lost elections. We don't want a repeat of 1994. We are an inclusive group: if you see the Second Amendment as safeguarding our right to keep and bear arms individually, then come join us in our conversation. If you are against the right to keep and bear arms, come join our conversation. We look forward to seeing you, as long as you engage in a civil discussion.
RKBA stands for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Notice I didn't say hunters. That's not an oversight but rather an inclusion. Not all gun owners and shooters are hunters, likewise archers and fisherman all pay excise taxes on everything from tackle to gasoline sold to power boats.
One of the best parts of the act is the 25 words inserted by Representative Robertson,
"And which shall include a prohibition against the diversion of license fees paid by hunters for any other purpose than the administration of said state fish and game department".
What those simple words did is to tie the return to the states of the moneys from the excise tax, to the use of license fees for the state fish and game departments. No diversion of license fees to the general revenue for roads or governors mansions. Those words not only safeguard Pittman Robertson funds but tie the reciept of those funds to the proper use of licensing revenue.
In 2000 the act was modified to correct misuse of funds for excessive management costs, the fund now receives regular audits from the General Accounting Office.
Above sandhill cranes in San Luis Valley where the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar comes from.
Known today as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, Pittman-Roberts has restored populations and in some instances perhaps saved from extinction such common animals as
White tailed deer
elk
antelope
bald eagle
peregrine falcon
wood ducks
wild turkeys
cougars
bear
bats
lynx
moose
wolverines
Canada geese
prairie dogs
ospreys
manatees
snail darters
black-footed ferrets
California condors
add more the list is endless.
Virtually every animal in North America benefits either directly through grants for establishing populations, or indirectly by the restoration of habitat. Funds are not restricted strictly to game species.
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Lynx and .Links
Many people don't understand that the federal government oversees our vast public lands, but the individual states manage the wildlife on those lands, and the money to manage that wildlife comes from hunting licenses and the Pittman Robertson Excise Tax. The next time you see a deer while walking in the woods, remember that deer used to be extremely rare
Pittman was a Democrat
http://www.nodc.us/...
AHSA who by the way endorsed Obama for President
http://www.huntersandshooters.org/...
Wildlife Law
http://wildlifelaw.unm.edu/...
Salazar releases $862 million for wildlife projects
http://www.doi.gov/...