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American Hunters and Shooters Association

 
Wikipedia: American Hunters and Shooters Association
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The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), founded in 2005, is a small United States-based group, which has set itself apart from the much larger gun owner organization, the National Rifle Association, founded in 1871, by supporting or advocating some restrictions of the use and ownership of firearms. Critics have questioned the legitimacy of the group, including whether the membership is composed of or representative of gun owners.

Contents

Description

The AHSA describes itself as "... a national grassroots organization committed to safe and responsible gun ownership" and "... a mainstream group of hunters who are looking to belong to a gun owners association that doesn't have a radical agenda." [1] According to information from a 2005 deposition, the group had fewer than 150 dues paying individual members.[2] Some organizations have been critical of AHSA, characterizing it as "the latest front group for the anti-gun movement."[3]

AHSA bills itself as a more moderate, common-sense advocacy organization, founded to more effectively promote the gun-control efforts of the Brady Campaign.[4] The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other pro-gun organizations have criticized the AHSA for it members' associations with other gun-control organizations and gun-control legislation.

Despite the similarity in name, AHSA has no ties to the field marksmanship promoting organization, the Hunter's Shooting Association(HSA). The AHSA has claimed no more than 150 dues paying individual members.[2]

History

In June 2006, Executive Director Bob Ricker formally introduced AHSA at a press conference at the annual conference of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.[5] Mr. Ricker proclaimed at this conference that the NRA and other 2nd Amendment rights organizations did not address the specific concerns of hunters - protecting hunting lands and wildlife habitats - which led to the creation of AHSA.[6] In 2007, President Ray Schoenke addressed the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.[7]

Stated goals

The AHSA web site indicates four general programs:[8]

  • "Protecting our sporting heritage"
  • "Hunting and fishing conservation"
  • "Gun safety"
  • "Law enforcement training, outreach and development"

Current Leadership

The leaders of the AHSA are[citation needed]:

  • Ray Schoenke, Founding President. A former football player for the Washington Redskins, Schoenke ran for Governor of Maryland as a Democrat and has given "millions" to Democratic politicians and causes according to a January 19, 1998 Washington Post article.[9] Among the groups that Schoenke has donated to are two that actively lobby to ban firearms: Handgun Control, Inc.[10] and America Coming Together[citation needed]. Schoenke was on the Governor's Commission on Gun Violence in 1996[citation needed].
  • Joseph J. Vince, Jr., a member of the Board of Directors is the former chief of the BATF's crime guns analysis branch. Currently, he is a principal of Crime Gun Solutions. Crime Gun Solutions has worked for the Brady Center, providing data analysis supportive of the Federal Assault Weapons Act,[11] and has provided ballistics evidence and analysis in lawsuits against firearm dealers.[12] He was a signer on a letter submitted to Congress opposing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act[13]
  • Jody Powell, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board
  • A. Austin Dorr, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board
  • Zakariah Johnson, AHSA Media Director and former Chair of the Gun Owners Caucus of the Democratic Party of Oregon.

Endorsement of Barack Obama & other candidates

The AHSA endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama for President in the 2008 General Election[14]:

“ "Because the gun issue has recently become a factor in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, I want to share the remarks I made today... [Millions of gun owners] not only wanted an organization that would protect their gun rights but an organization that was also committed to the protection of their communities as well as the protection of our lands." ”

AHSA endorsed Obama based mainly on Obama's vote for the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act.[15]

The AHSA endorsed the following Congressional candidates:

  • Jim Esch [D] (Nebraska - District 2)[16]
  • Eric Massa [D] (New York - District 29)[17]
  • Walt Minnick [D] (Idaho - District 1)[18]
  • Harry Teague [D] (New Mexico - District 2)[19] - Harry Teague's campaign declined the endorsement[citation needed].

Controversy

In August 2005, the gun-rights group, the National Rifle Association, said about the AHSA:[20]

  • "... they want to allow the FBI to keep records on law-abiding citizens who buy guns and put an end to gun shows as we know them. Not to mention the fact that they want to regulate .50 caliber rifles in the same way that machine guns are regulated."
  • ASHA officials have testified in favor of gun control legislation, such as Washington State Bill SB-5197, which aims to restrict private transactions at gun shows and create a database of gun owners.[21]
  • Two of the AHSA endorsed candidates for Congress have received low ratings by the NRA. With Massa receiving a "C" and Minnick a "D+". Only one AHSA endorsed candidate, Teague, has received an "A" rating from the NRA. However, this was an "AQ" rating which means it is based solely on the NRA questionnaire. The grade disparity between the organizations is large enough to be called into question.[24]
  • The AHSA claims to be a non-partisan organization.[25] However, to date the AHSA has only endorsed Democratic candidates.

In March 2008, Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke stated that he saw his organization's issues "as complementary to" those of the AHSA.[26]

Criticism of AHSA leadership

  • Bob Ricker, former Executive Director of the AHSA, was a former NRA employee who began supporting some groups advocating restrictions on the ownership and use of firearms and has testified as an expert witness against the firearms industry in multiple court cases.
  • John E. Rosenthal, a founding member of AHSA who left in 2007[27], is one of the founders of Stop Handgun Violence, a group which has been influential in instituting strong restrictions on the ownership of firearms in the state of Massachusetts.[28]
  • Schoenke has donated over $10,000 to the Brady Campaign, a national organization which advocates strong restrictions on the ownership of firearms.[29][30]

References

  1. ^ "AHSA Programs". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). http://www.huntersandshooters.org. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  2. ^ a b Robert Ricker. Deposition before the United States District Court For the Eastern District of New York, City of New York vs. Beretta USA Corp. et al., September 27, 2005
  3. ^ Chris W. Cox (2006-08-14). "Anti-Gunners Don Camo As Elections Loom". National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action (self-published). http://www.nraila.org/Hunting/Read/HuntingArticles.aspx?ID=200. Retrieved 2008-11-08. "Seeking to pick up the baton dropped by the ham-fisted Americans for Gun Safety, the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) has arrived on the scene to become the latest front group for the anti-gun movement in America." 
  4. ^ Ray Schoenke (2008-09-19). "American Hunters and Shooters Association Responds to its Critics". NewWest Travel and Outdoors - Guest Commentary. http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/american_hunters_and_shooters_association_responds_to_its_critics/C41/L41/. Retrieved 2008-11-07. "Ray’s wife Nancy is also connected politically. Like many wives of gun owners she is an independent thinker and does not like guns. She took a seat on the board of the Brady Campaign but soon became frustrated with the group’s lack of progress. Ray told her that progress would not be made until gun owners were allowed to bring their common sense perspective to the table. As a result, Nancy closed the family checkbook, resigned from the Brady board, and encouraged Ray to start AHSA." 
  5. ^ Bill Schneider (2006-06-21). "Saving Hunters From the NRA". NewWest Travel and Outdoors. http://www.newwest.net/index.php/main/article/saving_hunters_from_the_nra/. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  6. ^ Bill Schneider. "NRA Does Not Represent Both Hunters and Gun Owners". Tony Dean Outdoors - Issues. http://www.tonydean.com/issues2.html?sectionid=7648. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  7. ^ Ray Schoenke. "Speech by Ray Schoenke, President of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, at the Mayors' Against Illegal Guns 2007 National Summit (transcript and video links)". Mayors Against Illegal Guns. http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/events/summit_ahsa-speech.shtml. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  8. ^ "AHSA Programs". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). http://www.huntersandshooters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=47. Retrieved 2008-07-28. 
  9. ^ Amy Argetsinger. "Against Long Odds, Ex-Redskin Is Ready to Challenge Glendening". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/mdstateleg/govrace/schoenke1.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  10. ^ "Open Secrets - Donor Lookup: Find Individual and Soft Money Contributors". Center for Responsive Politics - OpenSecrets.org. http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.php?name=schoenke%2C+ray&state=&zip=&employ=&cand=handgun+control&all=Y&sort=N&capcode=hq59t&submit=Submit. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  11. ^ Brian J. Siebel, et al. (March 2004). "The Impact of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapon Act". Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (self-published). http://www.bradycenter.org/xshare/pdf/reports/on_target.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  12. ^ Elizabeth S. Haile, et al. (September 2006). "Lethal Lou's - Profile of a Rogue Gun Dealer: Lou's Loan". Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (self-published). http://www.gunlawsuits.org/xshare/pdf/reports/lethal-lous.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  13. ^ "GovTrack: House Record: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (109-h20051020-23)". GovTrack.us. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-h20051020-23. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  14. ^ Ray Schoenke (2008-04-16). "Hunters and Shooters Support Obama: He "Gets It"". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). http://www.huntersandshooters.org/taxonomy/term/54. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  15. ^ "American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) Endorse Obama for President". PRNewswire-USNewswire. 2008-04-16. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-16-2008/0004794250&EDATE. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  16. ^ "American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Jim Esch for Congress". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). 2008-10-16. http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1446. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  17. ^ "American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Eric Massa for Congress". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). 2008-10-21. http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1447. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  18. ^ "American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Walt Minnick for Congress". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). 2008-10-16. http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1446. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  19. ^ "American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Harry Teague for Congress". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). 2008-10-02. http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1420. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  20. ^ "Sometimes the Enemy Wears Camouflage". National Rifle Association, Institute for Legislative Action (self-published). http://www.nraila.org//Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?ID=1702. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  21. ^ "Senate Bill Report of SB-5197". Washington State Senate Committee On Labor, Commerce, Research & Development. 2007-02-27. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5197.SBR.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-08. "This bill represents the first step to restricting private arms sales in this state. This bill stands for a registration database of Washington gun owners...If this bill became effective, private firearm transactions brokered at gun shows could not be completed until several days after the event ends." 
  22. ^ Chuck Canterbury, National President of the FOP (2007-04-19). "Letter to Appropriations Subcommittee in support of Tiahrt Amendment". Fraternal Order of Police. http://www.fop.net/servlet/display/news_article?id=411&XSL=xsl_pages%2fpublic_news_individual.xsl. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  23. ^ Michael A. Battle, Former Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (2007-02-06). "Letter to John Feinblatt". US Department of Justice - Executive Office for the United States Attorneys. http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/DOJ_Bloomberg_ltr.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  24. ^ "NRA Candidate Grades and Endorsements (requires search parameters)". National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund (self-published). http://www.nrapvf.org/Elections/Default.aspx. 
  25. ^ http://www.huntersandshooters.org/about/who
  26. ^ Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. (2008-03-18). "New Pro-Gun Group Hopes to Draw From the NRA". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/17/AR2008031702579_pf.html. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  27. ^ "AHSA Press Release - John Rosenthal no longer with the American Hunters & Shooters Association (AHSA)". American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published). 2008-02-21. http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1419. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  28. ^ "Stop Handgun Violence: Press Releases". Stop Handgun Violence. http://www.stophandgunviolence.com/press-debut.asp. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  29. ^ "FEC Individual Contribution Search Results (search parameters: Schoenke, Ray)". Federal Election Commission. http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml. Retrieved 2008-11-07. 
  30. ^ "Find Individual and Soft Money Contributors (search parameters: Schoenke, Ray (donor), Handgun Control Inc (recipient))". OpenSecrets.org. http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.php?name=schoenke%2C+ray&state=&zip=&employ=&cand=handgun&all=Y&sort=N&capcode=v8784&submit=Submit. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
v • d • e
Gun interest groups in the U.S.
Pro-gun rights
Pro-gun control

External links


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