Obama Pushing Shooters Off Public Lands

Reader Comments

Back to blog

I'm an urbanite and recently moved to the edge of an urban center. I went hiking up in the hills nearby and there were people target shooting on the side of the roads up there. It was a little rattling to hear the sounds at first, but like anything else, you just have to assume they're doing it safely and be on your way. I wasn't "freaked out" and I'm not a gun person at all.

Jeff of WA 12:03PM February 06, 2013

saddest thing in the world that we loose children, but to take away our freedoms as lawabiding citizens is not right

howard edwards of AR 3:29PM December 16, 2012

Hello, i believe that i noticed you visited my website so i got here to “go back the prefer”.I'm attempting to to find issues to enhance my site!I suppose its ok to make use of a few of your ideas!!

cheap backlinks High PR Backlinks of TX 8:54AM September 06, 2012

The government needs to create designated outdoor sports shooting ranges at all these locations, and in all the major cities as well, similiar to sports arenas. By doing this, the American Tradition of gun ownership could be experienced and enjoyed by all.

Just imagine, in a place like New York City, young people could learn respectful gun ownership, as opposed to unlawful use, and unlawful ownership, and Mike Bloomberg can change the sign on his bus to "Mayors for Legal Guns."

In fact, with all Mr. Bloombergs money, he can call me. On the contrary, we'll design and construct a shooting arena that keeps the kids off the street, teaches them respectful, lawful use and gun ownership.

Let's do it Mike! You can bet they will learn that it is better to be a responsible law abiding citizen who can own a firearm, who will cherish that right, as long as they do not make a mistake and become criminals.

colortrue of NY 8:28PM July 25, 2012

Imagine sitting down to dinner and hearing shotgun blasts and rifle shots from seven in the morning until midnight. The dogs bark and we're afraid to let the grandkids go outside. We live 14.5 miles out of town in a rural area on private property surrounded by BLM land and Roseburg Lumber Company and a scenic byway road bisect our property. However this does not deter the recreational, reregulated shooting range near our property and the public road.

Many complaints to the sheriff and public officials has done nothing. Douglas County Oregon

Jan Nelson of OR 12:40PM May 28, 2012

O.K. Shooters (and I am one also, as well as a hunter and single-track-trail motorcyclist). I get all the same rhetoric that you are getting now. Too noisy, tearing up the land, Public Lands are only for "quite recreation", your type of recreation should be banned on Public Lands, etc., etc. Public Lands are provided for multiple-use. It is for all of us to use, share and appreciate. No matter what type of recreation we individually choose. Why must we continue charging that any one type of recreation has priority or validity over another? Why must each user group condem another? It is pure childish and selfish behavior. There are irresponsible and distructive users across the spectrum. Just take a look at some of the drivers on the street and the criminals stealing from your friend and neighbors who won't clean up their yards. Those same folks use Public Lands. They have a right to but the rest of us have to deal with them and what they leave behind. Because I love Nature and the environment but choose to ride my trail motorcycle to my special area I am BAD and shouldn't be allowed to do so. If I shoot in a special area I like, away from others, it still makes too much noise. It goes on and on. Then the anti-access mentality group contends that there is a "user conflict" and the government gets involved. Now Congress never intended the Agencies to resolve "user" conflicts. They were only charged with managing "use" conflicts. So the anti-access folks go out and see your brass and/or empty shells and now we have a "use" conflict that other "users" can complain about so that it can give the Agency authority to act. Ladies and Gentlemen, when you start walking in other user groups shoes you start to see a different picture. We all deserve an opportunity to use Public Lands in a responsible non-destructive way. Will there always be wear and tear on the land? Yes, and that is expected, just like the rifle or shotgun we fire gets worn or time and must be repaired, cleaned and maintained. Should we yell and scream because we see some else recreating another way and we don't like it because it is foreign to us? No, because when we do that The Agencies begin to take action to start banning the use by not one but multiple user groups. If it is not yours today. It will be soon. The anti-access group wants to ensure that Public Lands are only used for totally "quiet and undisturbed recreation" and they will work strategically to get that mission accomplished. So....taking a new attitude about other users and banning together to fight discrimination of your particular type of recreation on Public Lands makes way more sense if we are to keep the Feds from closing it all to us. Respectfully to all Public Lands Users

Allen Christy of NM 6:50AM March 29, 2012

are you kidding me? this president has got to go! i lived in Washington state were there are huge tracks of national and state forest and never did i hear about concerns from hikers about people shooting, like say in a sand or gravel pit for recreational shooting. this attempted ban is a back door way to limit people's rights for the 2nd amendment.i will gladly take mitt Romney of Obama any day of the week. and this is one way we can still have freedom in this nation. hey barrack you are not the sheriff of nottingham. there was a reason the English settled this nation and then everybody else followed. FREEDOM its a very simple concept.

tommy fuller of MA 9:56AM March 24, 2012

Amazing that you removed my earlier comment, ostensibly because it conveniently did not mesh with your beliefs. As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Sad Jimmy of NM 5:31PM March 19, 2012

This is a subject close to my heart, as can be seen by the following:

At the height of my career with Penguin, between Past Imperfect and Ascension Day, I wrote a novel called 'The Second Amendment.' Too American a theme, said Penguin; too controversial, said US publishers. However, to my agent and numerous readers since, in terms of a hard-edged, no compromises, adrenalin-rush thrill ride, it was my best book.

Too controversial? We should recall that pre-911, the Oklahoma bombing was the biggest terrorist attacks to take place on US soil; and the NRA continues to be one of the most powerful lobby groups.

In the ten years since first writing The Second Amendment, there have been over 200,000 gun deaths in the USA, from simple domestic or street arguments to drive-by shootings or Columbine-style school massacres. It remains an enigma of US society that there isn't as strong a voice for them as for the groups keen to preserve guns; which is no doubt why, still ten years on, gun control remains one of the hottest debates in US society and beyond.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Second-Amendment-1-ebook/dp/B007A53RX0/ref=sr_1_16?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329469044&sr=1-16

http://www.amazon.com/The-Second-Amendment-2-ebook/dp/B007A53W7G/ref=sr_1_17?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329469077&sr=1-17

John Matthews of CA 7:33PM February 25, 2012

Recreational shooters as a group are very environmentally aware, and not litterbugs. They got into this sport because they love wilderness and nature, and are very good stewards of the land. Plus, taxes on guns and ammo go directly to support conservation and wildlife. That's to say nothing of the billions of dollars they pump into the economy, by their spending on their somewhat pricey hobby.

This administration has displayed its strong bias against sportsmen and it callous indifference to their rights.

littlemike of CT 1:13PM February 08, 2012

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Back to blog

About this blog

About this blog

Washington Whispers has been featured in U.S. News & World Report since 1933, offering a fun, insider's view of Washington.

advertisement

Latest Videos

advertisement