I still think people are still letting their imaginations get away from them. Bill sterotypes a mindset of those who shoot or might hunt with an assault weapon. Right now those same people are out in the field hunting with shotguns. I doubt anyone is going to take up hunting just because he can use an assault weapon. Those who I meet out hunting have almost always been nice people just out to enjoy their sport in the outdoors. I meet people who shoot assault weapons out at Black Hawk park and most are not a lot different than you or me. Some people just have different ideas of fun. Just last weekend I talked to a prominent doctor at a local hospital that said he enjoys shooting assault weapons. He even took a course in how to shoot them. I told him I also took (or they made me take) a course in shooting them; they actually paid me a little to take the course; but I didn't like the green clothes they made me wear or the attitudes of the instructors. Not my idea of fun. I certainly agree with Mr. Eidsmoe that ideally you make one good shot at a game animal and that's it. For those who don't hunt, please understand that good shooting is quite a skill that must be developed over years of practice. Even still, sometimes something happens and you don't get a good clean shot. A good quick follow up shot is more humane that letting an animal run away wounded. Not to say that some people don't empty the gun at a running deer--I hear their shots. Just because I have a semiautomatic shotgun doesn't mean I just blast away at deer. In fact, most years I don't even shoot it; I'm content just to watch the deer. It's not the weapon, it is the person behind the trigger. Unfortunately there is a barrier between nature lovers and hunters; if they could find a way to shake hands and join together it would make a powerful voice for conservation. Classically hunters face some of the incorrect attitudes that we have discussed today. Hunters view nature lovers as holier than thou and snobish --with some justification. So again, tolerance folks. There are as many reasons that people hunt as there are people. Most simply enjoy the outdoors. They have as great an aesthetic of nature as you and me. Ok, so why the gun? It just adds a dimension to your experince--you watch everything carefully, listen to everything. To me I feel much more in tune and aware of nature. But, that's just my feeling. I don't get that from just bird watching or hiking in the outdoors. Hunters know the ways of wildlife and study them carefully. Why? Because they have an objective. Lanny Schwartz - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Join us at Sierra Summit 2005. For information go to: http://www.sierrasummit2005.org/ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/