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2007 Comments Worth Repeating III

By Bill Schneider, 9-06-07

All those great comments continue to pour in. Thanks everybody.

This is already the third selection of notable comments I’ve published so far this year. You can read the first two here and here.

And I wouldn’t be too surprised if I had one more. Enjoy.

The Zumbo Affair, Afterthoughts

“I grew up in a blue collar town and me and my friends were hunting on our own by the time we were 14. Most of used hand-me-down guns from our fathers, uncles, and grandfathers. None of these adults owned a pistol or assault rifle. But there was one guy in town who did own quite a few pistols and assault rifles--non-hunting guns.  He had a love for guns, not hunting. Our parents thought the guy was a little odd because of it. I’ve met a lot of guys like that since then, and many were a little odd. This discussion has flushed a covey of them. Hunters need their own gun organization. The NRA is on the wrong side of too many issues. I wouldn’t feel safe in my own hunting camp with these guys around.” (Bob)

”Personally, I don’t care what (type of gun) people shoot, but when I see someone out with a ‘black gun’ and they are hunting… I dunno, I think they’re into hunting for different reasons than I am. In fact, I get a little edgy around that kind of hunter. He’s not the sort of hunter my grandpa or my dad or my uncle is--and that’s who taught me to shoot and taught me to hunt. I tire of the reputation that a gun owner is some type of redneck. And I find that people who tend to sport the ‘black rifles’ tend not to enhance our image, as gun owning people, to the general public. The traditions of hunting and shooting passed down from our forefathers has become lost on them. They own firearms for different reasons, mostly stemming from the insecure notion that our great nation is going to cave in at any moment...I’ll keep the traditional, beautiful guns that are as much a part as family history as they are to pursue a sport and protect myself.... rather than think the world is going to implode...Whatever, this is bound to offend some nutjob that oil’s his AR’s synthetic stock every night…but know when you share the same piece of ground I hunt on with you, you are regarded with some suspicion amongst your fellow, casual, gun owners. We think you’re a bit odd.” (Matt)

Guns, Sex, Lies and Democrats

“The Dem’s in Congress can’t help themselves on gun control. It’s like the old story of the frog and scorpion. Scorpion begs the frog to give him a ride across the river, frog says no, you’ll sting me and I’ll die. Scorpion says no, I’d drown too. Frog gives in. Scorpion stings the frog and as they both go under the Frog says why? The scorpion answers, stupid, you should never have trusted me because I’m a scorpion.” (DonP)

“If a serial murderer took a wrench around and managed to kill your spouse and children, would you want to outlaw wrenches? Come on, let’s make sense. On the gun issue, the only concession I might be inclined to make--and only if the terms were specific and concrete and done by amendment (not statute)--is to restrict those weapons that impact, say, an entire section of land in one detonation, with a kill or critical injury rate on humans of something like 80%.” (kldimond)

Grizzly Delisting Will Test States, Forest Service

“It was put to me something like this: ‘If scientists allow their values to override the science, then their science loses its value.’ I find it interesting and annoying that, in general, the level of support for a large and increasing bear population declines the closer you get to the bears. It seems the level of ‘charisma’ one can attribute to bears depends on the distance you are from bears.” (Dave Skinner)

“What kind of pansy-ass hunter complains about being mauled by a grizzly bear when he is hunting grizzly bears?” (ryanus)

National Parks Plan Big Fee Increases

“I oppose the increase in park entrance fees. Currently less fortunate folks (which are most Montanans) can enjoy our parks, which are supposed to be for everyone....Having been a single parent without the benefit of child support, the national parks were one place I could afford to take my daughter on vacations. Please don’t price majority of citizens out of their national parks and make them into playgrounds for only the affluent. There are already too many places catering to the wealthy and forgetting the rest of this country’s citizens!” (Sherry)

Make National Parks a Free Tradition

“Amen! Now if you could only get members of Congress to pay attention to what you’re saying. Hah! Fat chance! Your arguments are totally logical, and, as we’re learning, logic no longer has any place in Congress.” (Gordon)

“National parks are like public schools. Their value is that they should be open to everyone no matter what their economic circumstances may be. Are we already so poor as a nation that we cannot afford to care for our parks and our schools without enacting fees?” (Geo)

America the Beautiful Pass Sends Us a Strong Message

“Forget democracy for a moment- charge the foreigners plenty! I expect my family trip to cost in the region of $20000. I plan to visit at least 7 national parks not to mention other areas the pass may cover. Would I pay $100, $200? Almost certainly.” (David Hodgins)

Mount Lemmon Trial Coming May 31

“People need to contact their Congresspeople and have them revise agency direction. Allowing the USDA FS to impose fees based on agency interpretation of Congressional actions and then a judicial interpretation is quite a stretch. We voted the congresspeople in, when they do a poor job, as in this case, get someone new.” (Marc Delany)

Mount Evans Fee Caught in Impasse

“You have good writing skills and provide logical views for the situation. I would like to point out that the local worker bees have little influence on what happens. Speak up and you get moved or worse. The Forest Service as a whole is becoming a rogue agency--willful disobedience of the law and the desire to get funds at whatever the cost. Look at how this mess was created--no public discussion, late-hour attachment to a vital funding bill. This is not the way to run a railroad. The FS leaders lie, cheat, steal the public trust, engage in character assassination to rid themselves of the gadflies.” (H Pat Murray)

NRA Competitor Gaining Ground

“The NRA always seems to be all about stirring up bullies to threaten and intimidate people.” (Mike)

“Every citizen should have a military firearm with 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and be required to qualify with same each year. As a side benefit, crime would virtually disappear.” (CS)

Nature’s Salmon Factory Threatened

“Born and raised in Bristol Bay, raised a commercial fisherman and subsistence hunting and fishing, I have never been so afraid in my life. Not of this dreaded project, but of our elected legislators.” (A. Johnson)

A Twelve Step Program for Fishaholics

“In order to ‘scale’ back on fish thoughts, do we really have to ‘fin-ish’ all 12 steps?  Since we have to buy a license and can only keep fish of a certain size, does that make us hookers?  I’ll have my trout on the rocks with a green leech.” (Craig Moore)

“I share your affliction. My girlfriend has actually been cheering the recent river closures.” (Nick D.)

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