Candidates Take Aim at Sportsmen's Vote

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I guess all us Democratic and Independant gun owners will be unimportant in this election?

"Group Seen as Factor in Swing States

Jim Martin, the conservation director for the largest fishing tackle company in the United States, is a registered Republican who, like many sportsmen, had high hopes when President Bush took office. But he now eyes the administration more warily, worried about its push for oil and gas development on public land and its position on global climate change.

"They should not assume because we're registered Republicans we'll vote for Bush," said Martin, who works for Pure Fishing. But he added that Democrat John F. Kerry still has to prove he deserves the loyalty of hunters and fishermen. "Neither side should assume they have this vote wrapped up," Martin said.

In the next few weeks, the Bush and Kerry camps will be rolling out their campaigns to win over what is often called the "hook and bullet" crowd. Numbering about 50 million strong and living in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Arkansas, the men and women who hunt and fish in this country have become significant players in the presidential campaign.

These voters are attractive for a number of reasons. They tend to be politically active; 93 percent of registered hunters voted in the 2000 presidential election, according to a Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation survey conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide, well above the national average. Although they lean Republican -- 46 percent, according to the CSF -- nearly a third are independent and 18 percent are Democratic, leaving ample room for political appeals.

"This is not a monolithic community," said Chris Wood, vice president for conservation at Trout Unlimited".


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[JayS]

1. I hope these ads run in my state; we need a little humor injected...

...into this election.

[Lefty48197]

2. Kerry should challenge Bush to a trap shoot.

I'll bet he would smoke him.

[Township75]

3. Depends on how much time Kerry would lose...

getting off all of those trigger safety locks he wants to be mandatory (at least at the sale). That would likely give Bush and advantage as far as time goes.

I often wonder if those gun owning politicians that want mandatory trigger locks laws use them in their own homes?

[OpSomBlood]

4. "I'm John Kerry. I trust law-abiding citizens to own guns privately."

That's all he needs to say to win the 2004 election in the biggest landslide in history.

[MrBenchley]

5. Yeah, THAT's going to keep the gun lobby from lying about him

"That's all he needs to say to win the 2004 election in the biggest landslide in history"
All one has to do is look at the open-minded, enlightened liberal intellectuals clogging the gun owner forums to see that (snicker)....

[OpSomBlood]

6. Please document these "lies."

I think it is reasonable to call Kerry's decision-making process into question when his last three memorable Senate votes have been in favor of the USA PATRIOT act, the Iraq War Resolution, and Assault Weapons Ban renewal.

John Kerry was present for one Senate vote this year...for AWB renewal. If banning semi-automatic weapons based on their non-mechanical cosmetic features is one of his highest priorities, then pro-gun groups have every right to call him out on it.

In fact, the only "lie" I've heard about Kerry with regard to guns is that he doesn't think that the Second Amendment applies to individuals. And I didn't hear that lie from the pro-gun lobby.

[MrBenchley]

8. Gee, op....

We had a dandy one just yesterday in GITN thread, with the story about the NRA's crappy attempt to evade campaign finance laws with its radio station...

"John Kerry was present for one Senate vote this year...for AWB renewal."
Actually, op, he was back for the vote on the shameful "immunity from liability for crooked gun dealers" bill...and his leadership helped bring it down. He was also back for the veterans rights bill vote too...and First and the GOP tabled it so that he COULDN'T vote on it...and when he missed the unemployment benefits vote, the GOP was quick to pounce on it...although they admitted publicly they would have manipulated the vote so that his would have made no difference.

But then it's noticeable the ONLY Democrats I ever hear pretending Kerry oughtn't to be running hard against pResident Turd are our "pro-gun democrats".

"the only "lie" I've heard about Kerry with regard to guns is that he doesn't think that the Second Amendment applies to individuals."
Gee, op, that might be a convincing charge if you hadn't been pissing and moaning that he has said never said any such thing in post # four. But as it is, we can all see it's more of the same old crap we get day in and day out from the trigger-happy.

[OpSomBlood]

10. Thanks for clearly documenting the lies.

Oh, wait...you did no such thing.

[MrBenchley]

11. Coudln't have done it without your help, op...

"OpSomBlood 
4. "I'm John Kerry. I trust law-abiding citizens to own guns privately."
That's all he needs to say..."

OpSomBlood 
6....the only "lie" I've heard about Kerry with regard to guns is that he doesn't think that the Second Amendment applies to individuals.

[OpSomBlood]

12. Thanks for NOT documenting the "lies about John Kerry by the gun lobby".

I can always count on you to not answer simple questions.

[MrBenchley]

13. TOLD you where to find one, op...

but really, do you need another?

"OpSomBlood 
4. "I'm John Kerry. I trust law-abiding citizens to own guns privately."
That's all he needs to say..."
OpSomBlood 
6....the only "lie" I've heard about Kerry with regard to guns is that he doesn't think that the Second Amendment applies to individuals.

[Wickerman]

7. I don't think anyone on this forum believes that

would end the sniping at Kerry by RKBAers. Everyone would parse the crap out of it and I'm certain Kerry knows that so he wouldn'tfind it worth expending that politcal capital.

[FeebMaster]

9. Only a Republican is dumb enough to fall for something like that

and Bush has their votes locked up.