November 21, 2007

Commentary
Second Amendment: Supreme Court to rule if
arms provision is an individual or collective right

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

The meaning of the Second Amendment of the Constitution will finally go before the U.S. Supreme Court for some modern clarification. The court agreed on Tuesday to hear a case that hinges on the “right of the people to keep and bear arms,” and it will rule on whether or not the District of Columbia’s complete 30-plus year ban on handguns violates that amendment.
In spite of what you will read and hear in the general media over the coming months, the vast majority of historians and Constitutional scholars have always believed the Second Amendment was about an individual’s right to own firearms. The concept of a “collective” right of gun ownership is a recent one. But if you read the Amendment using today’s meanings of terms, you could get the wrong idea. You could believe the amendment was talking about local police, state officers, or national guard troops, and not individual citizens. But you would be wrong.
The Second Amendment reads: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
Until the 20th century, a state’s militia was considered every able-bodied male. The framers of the Constitution believed that it was every citizen’s job to defend his home and country. So the first part of the amendment merely reinforces the idea that citizens, the people’s militia, have the right, the obligation even, to bear arms because we are all ultimately responsible to protect our freedoms.
That idea is unpopular in some circles today, but it doesn’t change the framers’ intent or how the relatively conservative and “strict interpretationists” on today’s Supreme Court will probably rule to strike down the DC gun ban, upholding a recent lower court’s decision.
Middle America has always understood the Second Amendment. Anti-gun stands have cost more than one politician his seat, and it’s very likely Al Gore lost his home state of Tennessee and the presidential race because he advocated more gun control. For many Americans, how a politician stands on gun control defines his whole character. If you are for gun control, you probably don’t support all the other important tenants of our Constitution. You simply can’t be trusted.
Inner city violence and rioting, the breakdown of social order after natural disasters (think New Orleans), and fears of crime have made a whole generation of urbanites recognize that they needed firearms to protect themselves and their families in times of crisis. The police weren’t going to be there in time, if at all. People understand our forefathers’ concept of “militia” still applies in a modern world. It was and is up to us to defend and protect. In New Orleans, groups of neighbors protected clusters of houses from looters and criminals after Katrina. Store owners defended their shops from rioters in Los Angeles and Chicago. Home invasion robberies are thwarted by little old ladies. The common denominator is that all of these people were armed.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the DC gun ban case, on which it will probably rule by next June, will make the issue a political hot potato in presidential primaries and the final race next November after a decision is rendered. The losers will say the Second Amendment does or should be amended to allow for citizens to be disarmed -- wholly or partially -- as in Washington D.C. The winners will recognize that Americans -- liberal and conservative -- understand the Constitution is indeed a living document, but some of its basic tenants shouldn’t be trifled with. And the Second Amendment’s guarantee of individual gun ownership is one of those.

VALUE OF WILD GAME: I don’t know what exactly compelled me to do this, but I just added up my minimal basic expenses from my Montana hunting trip earlier this month and then divided those costs by the number of pounds of venison I brought home.
The cost of that venison worked out to about $30 a pound.
You can look at this two ways.
1) Gourmet food is always expensive and organically grown meat ranks at the top of the list in real costs. This price isn’t so bad.
2) Holy buckskin, Cazador, that’s a lot of dough even for steaks from a young, fat mule deer buck. What were you thinking?
Both are probably true. But with the newly-minted memories of lovely country, good friends, and bountiful wildlife, I realize the real value of my time and investment. And after just a single meal made with fresh venison breakfast sausage, I know the total value of the trip: Priceless.

BIRD WATCHING SEASON: My bird seed cache is getting used up more rapidly as winter migrants move into the neighborhood. In my yard, mourning dove numbers have swelled from four to over 30 birds in the past week. Black-eyed juncos, white-crowned sparrows, lark sparrows, pine siskins, and goldfinches have joined my resident battery of California towhees, English sparrows, house finches, and lesser goldfinches. The scrub jay pair has been defending their peanut stash against another pair of newcomers. A young mockingbird is new to the yard. And the big female Cooper’s hawk is back -- I suspect to feed on the bounty of birds drawn to the yard by the seed I put out (and I’ve already seen her with one dove kill).
We have hummingbirds in the yard, but I don't do the hummingbird feeder thing. In fact, I'm not big on hummingbirds. They kind of remind me of big wasps the way they buzz right up to you if you have a red shirt or scarf on. I also had a close call with one as a kid, almost getting impaled right between the eyes by a pair of them zooming around the corner of the house. If it wasn't for my lightning-quick reflexes as a 13-year-old, I could have died, hummingbird beak piercing my brain.
Since I've avoided that fate once, I don't want to tempt things any more by putting up feeders and getting too many of them in the yard. I could just see the headlines:
Beloved outdoor writer killed by hummingbird;
news met with great mirth in outdoor community
No, I don't need that. One of my friends told me this was an unreasonable fear of these little creatures, and that he didn't believe the hummingbird's beak could penetrate far enough into the skull to kill me, even if it hit me at full speed. I though about that and envisioned another headline:
Reviled outdoor writer lobotomized by hummingbird;
regular readers can't tell difference in weekly column
Still, I think it's enough that we have flowers that they like. I don't need to feed the little burr-balls and have squadrons of them here this time of year. I’m playing things safe.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

DECEMBER 1 HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The class dates for 2008 will be set soon. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
DECEMBER 1-2 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW. Dates for 2008 classes will be set soon. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
DECEMBER 1-3 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE WORK PROJECT: The Mojave Preserve Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group will have a guzzler repair project in the Cedar Canyon area of the Mojave National Preserve Dec 1-3. Food will be provided two evenings and three mornings, but everyone should bring water, firewood, food or lunch and snacks, and gloves. For more information and directions to the camp site, contact Cliff McDonald at 760-326-2935 or via e-mail at bigmc@citlink.net.
DECEMBER 8 BAJA FISHING SEMINAR: The staff of 976-TUNA will be conducting a free Baja Fishing Seminar 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8, at Bass Pro Shops, Victora Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga. A free trip to Palmas de Cortez will be given away. Contact 976-TUNA at 310-328-8426.
DECEMBER 15 UNITED ANGLERS NO-MOTOR TOURNAMENT: The United Anglers of Southern California will have is rescheduled “No-Motor” Tournament Saturday, Dec. 15. The event will benefit the Carpenteria Marsh helping to protect important halibut nursery habitat. The tournament is open to all anglers who fish aboard kayaks, float tubes, canoes or any other seaworthy craft that runs exclusively on “people power.” The entry fee for those signing up by December 13 is $40 -- which includes UASC membership or renewal. On-site sign-ups on December 14 or 15 will be available for $50. For the latest information, rules, and sign-up forms, go to the UASC web site at www.unitedanglers.com or call the UASC office at 949-83-9447.
JANUARY 25 HEAVYWEIGH BASS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT: The Heavyweight Bass Classic will be held Friday, Jan. 25 at Casitas Lake to determine the best of the big bass anglers. The event is limited to 50 anglers with a $200 entry fee and the winner takes all -- not to mention having bragging rights at the best big bass angler in the country. Entries will be accepted beginning Nov. 17. For more information, contact Ron Cervenka, P.O. Box 800342, Santa Clarita, CA 91380 or e-mail socalteams@hotmail.com.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER):The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER):The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-841-2100 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Bob Peters via e-mail at bpi1@ca.rr.com or Don Jamroz at donjamroz@aol.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Callender's Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to odwriter@earthlink.net. Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]

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