All is Not Lost!

[Outdoor Talk Network by Jim Slinsky]
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All is Not Lost! ©

By Jim Slinsky
01/05/08

A famous man once said "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Certainly an interesting comment considering Edmund Burke put those words together in the mid-1700’s. Things haven’t changed much in the last almost 300 years. You speak of your liberties and government speaks of your security. History reveals government’s pursuit of noble causes has been the vehicle of choice for driving our freedoms into obscurity. It’s an old game that is really getting old.

With that said maybe you have that fire in your belly and that tunnel-vision passion to hold government accountable for their actions. It would not take much to get the PGC and DCNR under control. With no more than six pieces of curative legislation we could effectively slap these bureaucrats upside their heads and get them going in the right direction. It is all about limiting their discretion. The arrogance of state agencies and their lack of respect for the will of the people has become a known national problem. I suppose we could say at this juncture “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance”.

There are a few people working very hard behind the scenes so to speak to put together those six pieces of critical curative legislation. In 2007, Dr. N. Charles Bolgiano, Legislative Liaison for the Unified Sportsmen of PA (USP) worked very diligently to bring about legislative change. Last spring House Bill 1214 (a USP creation) unanimously passed the House Game and Fisheries Committee and went on to pass the full House of Representatives without a single dissenting vote. State Rep Dan Surra was the mover and shaker of this bill. This legislation limits the term of PGC Commissioners to four years instead of eight. This deer eradication program could not possibly have continued if a few select Commissioners were gone a few years ago. This is critical legislation with other obvious benefits that would have a major impact on protecting your rights.

Dr. Bolgiano is also working on legislation to modify Title 34, the Game Code. In this instance USP wants language inserted into the Code requiring the PGC to not only manage wildlife scientifically, but mandate equal consideration for social, recreational and economic impacts when determining seasons and bag limits. Certainly you are beginning to envision “plugging the leaking dam” scenario.

Allowing sportsmen to play a role in the appointment of PGC Commissioners is another Unified initiative now being discussed in legislative caucus rooms. This is the old “taxation without representation” argument that would probably easily hold up in a courtroom. This is a national problem offering PA legislators the opportunity to project themselves above all other states.

The deer management audit instigated by Dr. Bolgiano and USP has recently gained deep traction. The Legislative and Budget Finance Committee recently announced their intent to conduct a thorough, objective review of our deer management program. USP is currently discussing with our legislators the research team and the parameters necessary to keep this audit objective and successful.

These few examples are the mere tip of the iceberg of what a few are trying to accomplish for so many. Personally, I don’t buy that old cliché` “You can fight city hall, but you just can’t win”. The last time I looked this was still the United States of America. You have the right to vote and certainly have the right to voice your concerns.

It is time for deep analysis of exactly who you are and what role you will play in saving our grand traditions. Is that fire burning in your belly or will you roll over and sell your guns? What has the PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs or the United Bowhunters or Audubon done for you lately?

We are a critical crossroads in this entire debate. It is more than just deer management. It’s about small game, habitat improvements, predator management, financing for the PGC, our State Games Lands and our guarantee to hunt, fish, trap and shoot. It’s the big picture and the details.

All is not lost. If we have to pass legislation, terminate people, cut the trees and restore the deer, it is attainable if you have that fire in your belly. The cost of maintaining our traditions has indeed become eternal vigilance. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Right now you need to ask yourself, “Am I a good man?”

Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Outdoor Talk Network”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at www.outdoortalknetwork.com.

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