Now you're getting to the heart of my argument. Automobiles are heavily regulated, subject to thousands of laws and regulations. They are forced to carry insurance policies in the event of misuse or mishap. Drivers are restricted to 16+. In a recent Supreme Court case, involving punitive damages, the PA SC called the motor vehicle one of "the most deadly weapons" in the Commonwealth.In that case, they tightened the screws on drunk drivers who injure innocent persons by subjecting them to "punitive damages," which are damages not limited to economic loss, medical expenses or pain & suffering. They have no ceiling, and have been awarded in the MILLIONS.

As hunters, much the same, we're using"deadly weapons," and, in my travels, I've seen enough to know that the "screws need tightened." There are some real derelicts running around the deerwoods. If you don't believe me, make a fieldtrip to Pennsylvania on November 28, 2005.

I'd start with revoking the hunting privileges of convicted felons and violent criminals. If that didn't work, I'd ramp up penalty for hunting code violations, particularly, crimes of recklessness. Next,the hunters' safety test bumped upto a 8-10th grade level, instead of a 5th. (the drivers' safety test is roughly on a 8-10th grade level).

Basically, hunters numbers are dwindling, so if we don't start to move on things on our own terms, we'll get legislation rammed down our throats by non-hunters, which sucks.Examples could include insurance policies on our guns, punitive damages for misconduct, all-out bans, etc.

You guyscan shoot the messenger all you like.

F.Y.I. GUS - Igoogled some search terms, and found the above-referenced article on an anti-hunting website called the "Hunting Accident Report Center" ontheCommitte To Abolish Sport Hunting's website.Iwill research each article before postingto verify its authenticity. Most of my articles will come from that site, so I don't have to botherlooking for another one each day - they're all neatly listed and linked accordingly.

IMO, it does more harm thangood whenan anti- or any voter, for that matter, hears about a 7 year-old kid shooting his friend's leg off while hunting. It also does us no good when guys are using semi- or fully-automatic weapons and have a "mishap." The public is hypersensitive to kids and hunters. They already have a negative predisposition of hunting and those who do it. We're just not doing ourselves any favors by turning 7 year-olds loose with semi-auto's. We live in the court of Public Opinion, and right now, we're not doing well.