In this time, we as gun owners, hunters and outdoors people, it seems like we are in constant defense of our lifestyle. I read an article this morning about the Milwaukee police chief, and his desire to make more laws. Last year, our brave governor and some brave senators in my state (Wisconsin) ended the choke hold of our second amendment rights. Now, a law abiding citizen has the right to carry a firearm concealed. A true victory for our side. Any law abiding, legal citizen with no felony record can obtain a CC permit with proper training and the required paperwork. So now, police chief Ed Flynn is asking legislators for some more “restrictions”. First being that people with 3 misdemeanors not be granted cc rights. Second, ignore the reality of plea bargain rights. Without getting into the cons of all this (whoever is reading this understands) and the fact that there are just too many variables, I’ll just move on. The fact is, liberals and the like, do not want us to have guns. They don’t want us to hunt. They don’t think we should protect ourselves. Most of them are just brain washed by the current socialist leadership of this country. Slowly they are creating a society of helpless, scared, sheep, dependent on their entitlements. Everything that goes against the principals our great country was founded on. So, how do we everyday people who encounter these people get our points across intelligently? Well first, it’s our duty to pay attention to the everyday happenings. We need to research as much as we can. Arm ourselves with facts. I believe most conservatives do just that. It’s unheard of you hear of liberals tires slashed, or property vandalized at liberal events or campaign headquarters. It happens frequently from that side, even though most media outlets don’t report it. The biggest challenge comes in, is how on earth can you explain a lifestyle most of us grew up around, rich in tradition and sentimental value? How can I tell them how much my beloved Weatherby rifle means to me when all they see is “a gun”? The Weatherby, was my grandfather’s. He bought 2 months before I was born in 1973. He’s taken countless deer with it. I started using it in 1992 and have also taken many deer with it. This rifle is so much more than a tool to kill a deer; it is a family heirloom that my son will use one day. Every time I pick it up my mind is flooded with memories. No price can be put on that. Along with many more rifles and shotguns, some from my dad, some from my grandpa and some I bought, they are much more than “guns”. And not just the tackle we use, but the experiences themselves. Animals taken, or hunted and not taken. It’s the experience that drives us. A guided out of state hunt, or a walk in the back yard with a .22. That’s what they cannot, and will never understand. No matter how much it’s explained. A first rabbit, a first walk in the woods with dad. People we were with, the “kill” isn’t necessarily what we remember. My first out of state big game hunt was in Saskatchewan for a spring black bear hunt. I was 27, it was dark time in my life. I was recently divorced, I had a 2 year old daughter and my dad had almost died and was very ill. I was lost for the most part. When someone backed out of a hunt and I was asked to go, I couldn’t say no. I honestly didn’t care if I got a bear. I was ecstatic to be going. I had never seen a live bear. After 4 days of seeing almost 40 different bears, a couple climbing my tree and getting bluff charged, I actually took one with my bow. Was a huge 425 lb spring bear, skull net measuring 20 ¼”. There was a moment in the woods I had I’ll never forget. I was sitting on the ground next to the bear, starring at him. This wave of emotion came over me, I felt spirits around me and I cried uncontrollably. Was like everything I had been going through unloaded from me and I knew everything would work out. I was different after that. How do you make someone who just thinks I killed a poor defenseless animal see that it was so much more? How do you tell a class of people that discard their latest smart phone or ipad for the latest and greatest model as soon as it comes out that our “guns” actually mean something to us? It’s one of the greatest challenges of our time. And if we don’t figure out how to do it, our beloved lifestyle will slip through our fingers. Do your part, vote, and be an activist. Help activists. There’s more at stake than high gas prices.
Neil Demant.