Many people in this country hunt to live

[countryjake]

216. If I had my way, Elk, Deer, Bear, even Bunnies would have RKBA...

in order to bring a cosmic balance to the "sport" of hunting. I rather like the notion of prey that's packing.

With that preface, as you might figure, I am no hunter, dearly love the wildlife I find outside in the natural world, and have no desire to either kill or eat them, neither from need or personal preference.

However, I, too, have an understanding that what I see as a thing of beauty others might view as meat on the table. Where I live in the Pacific Northwest and also, where I was born and raised in Northwestern Ohio, owning a gun used to go tromp out in the woods in order to stock food is simply a way of life. Nearly everyone I know who hunts (or knew, back home) also pack their own reloads to save on the cost of ammo. It is a frugal and practical method of providing for a family and takes smarts, skill, and a license. I could never consciously begrudge someone who wishes to fill their freezers in such a way.

I agree that some exceptions do need to be made for these folk, in the proposals of extremely high taxes on firearms and the ammo required to use them, but if I thought on that for awhile, I imagine even I could come up with methods to avoid exacting exorbitant punishments on the family hunter. Better gun regulation needs to be designed and enacted in this country, it's long overdue, and I hope that those who are trusted to prepare such laws will keep in mind that there is a difference between those who shoot for "sport" and the ones who shoot because of a practical need.