HUNTERS TAKE NOTE

Kerry Campaign Mistakes Your Bolt-Action for an Assault Rifle. . . "My favorite gun is the M-16 that saved my life and that of my crew in Vietnam. I don't own one of those now, but one of my reminders of my service is a Communist Chinese assault rifle." That's the quote provided to Outdoor Life magazine in answer to a question about Senator John Kerry's favorite firearm. Then, The New York Times and other mainstream news organizations went looking for answers to why the Senator would own one, after celebrated quotes elsewhere that hunters have no use for semi-auto firearms. Kerry made the assertion in calls to renew the expired federal "ban" on certain semi-auto firearms resembling military guns. The Times wrote, "Stephen P. Halbrook, a gun rights lawyer who has argued several cases before the Supreme Court, said the most common Chinese assault rifles, known as SKS clones, were not among the 19 models banned under the 1994 law. But some SKS's have magazines holding more than 10 rounds, which violates a Massachusetts law against large-capacity weapons, Mr. Halbrook said. If the gun is fully automatic, Mr. Halbrook said, it is illegal in Massachusetts and would require a federal permit if Mr. Kerry kept it at one of his homes in Pennsylvania and Idaho."

STILL MORE CONTRADICTION

Now, a campaign aide is being blamed for the gaffe. Kerry's campaign says he meant to say that the "assault rifle" is actually a bolt-action he's never fired, which he acquired years ago in some apparently private transaction just like the kind he wants to outlaw. Kerry is on the record opposing person-to-person sales of firearms. In a follow-up story, The Times reports "Michael Meehan, a spokesman for the campaign," said Mr. Kerry's cherished keepsake is a rifle like those "first manufactured in Russia more than 100 years ago and were used by the North Koreans and the Vietcong." It appears that a Mosin-Nagant rifle, favored by Soviet snipers in The Great Patriotic War (WWII),  is the gun to which the aide refers. Semi-auto hunting guns were also available to Americans more than 100 years ago, yet the Senator has supported legislation that would prohibit duck hunters from owning semi-auto shotguns in his co-sponsoring of Senate Bill 1431.

• STILL NO FLOOD OF 'ASSAULT WEAPON' BUYERS . . . Though there is no perfect tool for tracking sales across the firearms industry,  NICS provides a good indicator. Year- to- date, according to FBI data, 2004 has  generated 7-to-8 percent more background checks than 2003. And, contrary to most media forecasts, there has been no spike in NICS traffic since the federal " assault weapons ban" expired September 13.

• STATE SEMI-AUTO BANS REMAIN . . . NSSF's members have asked for assistance keeping track of restrictions on ammunition magazines and semi-automatic firearms that remain after expiration of the federal law. Check for the information you need at http://www.nssf.org/LL/stateAWB.cfm and at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives state laws Web site.

• 50 MILLION CHECKS . . . The phone call came from a pawn shop in Dallas and when the potential customer's criminal background was checked the National Instant Criminal Background Check System worked the way it was designed. There was no sale, because just the previous day an arrest warrant had been issued for the man standing across the counter who wanted to buy a gun. It was the 50 millionth time FBI records had been checked since 1998, required before all retail firearm sales. Read about it in a news release on the NSSF Web site.

• THE ELECTION HAS ALREADY STARTED . . . At this weekend's Gun Rights Policy Conference, attendees were reminded that Iowa is already mailing ballots that will be cast in the Presidential election November 2. In other states, registration is closing down in days, and those who are not registered will not be able to choose who represents them in government. Get information about registration and learn more about the firearm industry's Vote Your Sport effort on the NSSF Web site. And, if you plan to be hunting November 2, learn now how to get and vote your absentee ballot with a visit to the NRA's Web site for hunter-patriots.

• KNOW WHERE YOUR CANDIDATE STANDS . . . National Rifle Association president Kayne Robinson was recently interviewed on the Can & Company NRA News program and pointed out this interesting fact: "The only thing that all of the anti-gun and anti-hunting organizations and the pro-gun, pro-hunting organizations agree on completely is that Kerry is the most anti-gun candidate in U.S. history. The way you can prove that is to look up their ratings." The Brady Center and other gun control groups note that Kerry is 100 percent on their side in passing legislation to restrict gun ownership. Anti-hunting groups, specifically the U.S. Humane Society and Fund for Animals, also overwhelmingly approve of Kerry's voting record in Congress. NRA has rated Kerry an "F" on sportsmen's votes, and Gun Owners of America gives him a "zero" rating on firearm ownership and hunting issues. If that surprises you, find more about the candidates' positions at www.voteyoursport.com. 

• CLAY TARGET ROOKIE OF THE YEAR . . .  Starting with the 2004 target year, there will be Trap & Field SCTP Rookie Team of the Year awards, open to all SCTP novice category shooters. These awards are in the tradition of the late Jimmy Robinson's picks as trap and skeet editor of Sports Afield for more than 45 years. Download your applications from the SCTP Web site.

• PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION . . . President George Bush issued a proclamation recognizing sportsmen and women on Saturday. "On National Hunting and Fishing Day, we celebrate the remarkable progress we have made in conserving our environment and recognize those who have worked to conserve our natural resources. America's hunters and anglers represent the great spirit of our country and are among our Nation's foremost conservationists. These citizens have worked to protect habitat and restore fish and wildlife populations. They volunteer their time, talents, and energy to countless conservation projects, because they recognize the importance of maintaining the natural abundance of our country for future generations. My Administration is committed to achieving a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for all Americans, including our hunters and anglers."

• A DOUBLE DOSE OF SAFETY . . . With demand still strong nationwide for firearm safety education material, Project ChildSafe has begun its second round of distributing millions more gun locks and reminding gun owners to safety store firearms in their homes to prevent accidents among children.  Developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Project ChildSafe began its successful distribution of nearly 20 million safety kits to all 50 states in 2003 under a $50 million U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grant. The second phase of the program, funded by DOJ grants that total $30 million, began September 1, 2004. Project ChildSafe continues to partner with governors, lieutenant governors, U.S. Attorneys and law enforcement agencies, and the first official re-launch occurred in Montana with Lt. Governor Karl Ohs on September 20, followed by New Hampshire's announcement the next day with Attorney General Kelly Ayotte representing Governor Craig Benson. Project ChildSafe is currently touring New England states, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. By August 2005, Project ChildSafe will have distributed over 32 million safety kits that include free cable-style gun locks and firearm safety brochures. For more information visit www.projectchildsafe.org.

AROUND THE STATES

• OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA  . . . Scholastic Clay Target Program participants Patrick McCann, 15, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, won gold, Ryan Kackley, 16, of Byesville, Ohio, was awarded silver and 16-year-old Sam Lutz of Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, has taken the bronze in trap at this year’s Junior Olympic Development Camp. The camp, which allows young shooters to be "scouted" by legendary Olympic shooting coach Lloyd Woodhouse, concluded September 19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Only 13 participants were selected to attend through an application and interview process. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, through its Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) that’s been introducing youths into competitive shooting for four years, selected camp attendees and co-sponsored a portion of the costs. USA Shooting was a major partner. SCTP is one of only a few avenues through which young shooters may experience Olympic-class shotgun training.

• NEW HAMPSHIRE. . . One might expect better in a state which prints "Live Free or Die" on its auto license plates. A clay target-shooting student has been forbidden to place his photo in his high school yearbook because he posed with an over-under shotgun carefully carried open and over his shoulder. Fellow students posed with musical instruments or other objects depicting their extracurricular interests, but Londonderry school superintendent Nathan S. Greenberg says the districts zero-tolerance policy prohibits any mention or depiction of guns -- even "good guns." Kelly Hobbs of the NRA says "The photograph clearly has nothing to do with violence. In fact, it reflects a deep-rooted American heritage that teaches safety and responsibility." Gun Owners of New Hampshire and the NRA have vowed to take the matter to court if Greenberg does not allow the skeet-shooting student the same opportunity others have to depict their legitimate interest in responsible activities. Read about it in The Boston Globe.

• CALIFORNIA . . . Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 1152, the Ammo & Fingerprint Registration Bill, saying, "This bill proposes an ammunition registration process that has already been considered and rejected by the federal government when they repealed a substantially similar law citing it was simply unworkable and offered no public safety benefit. In addition, no other state collects information on ammunition sales or purchasers. Forensic testing of ammunition used in a crime is the most effective way of tracing criminal activity." The governor's position outlined in his veto message parallels arguments made against the bill by the firearms industry, both of which you can read on the National Association of Firearms Retailer Web site.

• WASHINGTON, DC. . . Wednesday is when Congress is expected to take up legislation that would restore the right to keep and bear arms to residents of the District of Columbia, who have for many years been practically forbidden to own guns of any type. Read more in The Wall Street Journal.

AROUND THE INTERNET

• READERS WRITE . . . Some outstanding letters to the editor resulted in "guest opinion" pieces written by articulate gun owners about the so-called "ban" on "assault weapons." Raul Mas Canosa wrote one in The Miami Herald, and Carlos Cuevas penned a piece for South Carolina's The State.

• JOHN KERRY'S GIFT GUN . . . The semi-auto shotgun presented to John Kerry by United Mine Workers leaders, the one raising so many questions about Kerry supporting a proposed law that would have prohibited duck hunters from owning a semi-auto just like it? It apparently remains there in West Virginia. Journalist Dave Workman, writing in Gun Week, reports that the Remington 11-87 was “returned to the person who bought it,” according to Kerry campaign spokeswoman Kathy Roeder. That's something The Charleston Daily Mail mentioned in its coverage of the continuing controversy, noting that an NRA spokesman believes Kerry is trying to confuse sportsmen.

• MEDIA BIAS . . . Cam Edwards writes in the October edition of America's First Freedom magazine that The New York Times informally polled reporters at the Democratic National Convention to find that Washington, D.C.-based reporters favor John Kerry by a 12-to-1 margin over George Bush for election November 2. "The question then becomes," Edwards says, 'Can we trust these reporters to examine the issues honestly and objectively?' Sadly, I think it's become all too obvious over the past few months that we cannot." Edwards hosts Cam & Company Monday through Friday from 2 -to - 5 p.m. on the Internet at http://www.nranews.com and is also heard at that time on SIRIUS Satellite Radio Patriot Channel 141, and then replayed on SIRIUS 142 from 6-9 a.m.

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