I've heard sentiments like Robert's too many times and frankly it scares me more than just a little bit. I've attended rallies and meetings for HSUS, PETA, PAWS, and NARN and I can tell you that they have a strategy that counts on good folks like Robert to say to themselves "I don't see how banning leg hold traps affects me so I don't care". They are using the classic divide and conquer tactics proven so effevtive by the Nazis. We need to recognize that because so few sportsmen took action they won the battle for hound hunting for cougars, they beat us again with the bait ban for bears, and once again with I-713. The residents of this state have paid the consequences for those ill-conceived laws ever since. Some foresight on the part of this great state's passionate sportsmen and women will tell us that each time we lose one of these battles that seemed insignificant at the time, we give the wackos more momentum and we have sold out some of our fellow sportsmen who we may need when the time comes for the battle for our pet outdoor hobby. If they come after bowhunting in this state, which they may do as soon as 2004, will the rifle hunters lay back and say " I don't hunt with a bow so why should I care"? If so, do you think the bowhunters are going to have a chance? No way! If this trend continues, all hunting and fishing could eventually fal prey to the rats in these extremist groups. I hope it doesn't happen, but I see it unfolding in here and in other states like Maryland. I hope we don't let it continue.

lobo