Wow my brain hurts..... And it should. This all requires some rational thinking and, more importantly, good judgment. Sometimes that’s not easy… at least not for everyone.

So what some of you are saying is that before an adult human being can shoot a bow and arrow, not a gun....but a primitive weapon...he needs to be REQUIRED, to have a MANDATORY class (read approval) by the state beyond what the state already mandates for hunters safety. Our culture is wacked. No, we are not saying that at all. You are free to shoot a primitive weapon anytime you want. Not necessarily wherever you want, and certainly not at our wildlife-there are conditions.

Can you see the American Indians saying...before you hunt in our woods young brave visiting from another tribe...we want you to take a course on safety and pass a proficieny test...lol...What American Indians? We’re they not eliminated or brought to near extinction like much of our wildlife? It took an entity like our government in the early 1900’s, with all its power, laws/rules, and mandates, to stop the mass destruction. Am I wrong?Would wehave what we have today without such mandates?
What many of you are missing is everyone on this thread supports the class..supports further education...supports training new hunters... Some of us do not think our rights should be taken away untill we get approval from the state to do something that has been a right since the dawn of man[/b]. Really, since when was it a right? If I remember my history correctly, the deer in England belonged to the crown. If you shot one, you had your head cut off. That is one of the reasons our forefathers so diligently prescribed the wildlife of this independent nation belongs to everyone. Not you, not me, but the state! That makes hunting a privilege in my opinion. For goodness sake, if hunting was a right, we would have cannibals running around everywhere killing and eat whomever, whenever. I don't feel like the state should have to put thier stamp of approval on me in order for me to practice "primitive weapon hunting".[/b] Then move someplace where there isn’t government and the animals belong to you! Otherwise, accept the fact that you are part of society. As a member, we will protect you from cannibals and assure youreceive yourinalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Further, if I was a anti hunting lawyer, the VERY BEST THING that could happen in my opinion is any restriction of hunting, such as required/mandated courses for bowhunting. Anything for bigger government, less hunters and more restrictions. I certainly do not see it that way. I see it as better government (something essential with respect to the present population-which, by the way, isn’t getting smaller), better hunters, and better management. Again, without the benefit of the government, we would not have all the wildlife we have today! We are not restricting you. You can either hunt or not. If you do hunt, we want you to know what you are doing…to our standards. Planes fall from the sky, accidents happen…we all understand. We accept the fact that do-do happens. What we the people do not tolerate is stupidity. Nor do we accept the fact that some people think they are better than the rest of us and above the law.

My argument would be "if bow hunting is so dangerous, that the state requires a mandated proficiecy test, safety course, special class before you can use a BOW and ARROW" how much more should the public be worried about hunters using high powered rifles. I would say that is up to the individual voters within each state. Who assumes the risk and how much risk are they willing to tolerate? Wyoming, for example, might not see high powered rifles or bows as an issue. This is purely based on population density within a given area. That being said, I would say it is certainly and issue in Rhode Island. Personally, I do not see bow hunting as a dangerous endeavor-others might. I look more upon it as an ethical pursuit. I want 70-80% of the population to know that we the people and I are taking the necessary steps to establish procedures to train our ranks on what is ethical and what isn’t. I do not want Wayne Pacelle (USHS) standing there showing them the photographs of animals with arrows sticking out of their heads. Shouldn't we require proficeny tests with those?Some states do. Colorado is one if you need an example. Shouldn't we do background checks before we let people go into the woods to "hunt" with weapons that are far more powerfull than a stick with an arrow? Now you are getting carried away… I would pound my chest.... point at the accidents that happen each year with bow and arrow hunting (very low, not including tree stand falls) compared to rifle hunting (much higher) and declare that for the publics saftey we must have more legislation so we know what/where/who is doing with high powered rifles. Much higher you say? Accidents have been essentially eliminated in my state since 1949. And, we are having fewer and fewer people lost in the back country as a direct result of proper training. What’s going on in your state? Wasn’t there a shooting cased by a Vice President? Did he have proper Training? IF THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS SO IRRESPONISBLE THAT THEY CANNOT, WITH OUT THE STATES INTERVENTION/APPROVAL, OPERATE A BOW AND ARROW THEN HOW CAN THEY BE EXPECETED TO BE TRUSTED WITH A HIGH POWERED RIFLE? (there I shouted ) Don't think for one second I couldn't spin that like crazy if I was an anti hunter lawyer.

Do those of you who support mandatory classes see how very little faith you put in the the general population of this country?Ok, so what’s your point? I am tired of paying the price for stupidity! If you do not see that your view of the average joe American is poor, you might want to revisit your values. You are basicly saying, hey, I think the government should take care of them and me...cause we can't do it......its shamefull. No it’s not, it’s responsible! If you walked into a Texas 3d bow shoot and stated..."Before any of you guys hunt this year we want you to take a course, pass at profienciey test and have it state approved becuase we don't think any of you are responsible enough to hunt without our intervention"...the looks you would get... but here you are stating that nationally...in every state...thats what should happen. Who said that? However, I think, for the best interest a state’s wildlife program, each state should adopt a mandatory training program. Walk into that same 3d shoot and give the guys this option. Take a training course or lose your hunting privilege. I’d be willing to bet they would ask “where do I sign!”

The very thing you support in order to promote our sport will be the very thing they use against you.... Really, I thought it was the arrows sticking out of heads that they were/are using against us?

You might say..well...this is mandated for those few who need it but won't take it, not people who go to 3d shoots they of course dont need it but must take it anyway because its mandated... So basicly you are a socialist....everyone suffers in order to cater to the few...or the fears of the few..about what might happen to the few....sigh.... I am a realist trying to keep my hunting privileges from going the way they did elsewhere in the world. Spend ten minutes and see how many countries allow bow hunting in Europe. Bow hunting use to be BIG in England. Now it is banned! Too many people thought they knew better!

Eventually, I will have a license to bowhunt, drive, ride a bike, skateboard, surf, ski (with a special class and profiency test to snowboard cause the skiing test was not safey specific enough for snowboarding), rappel, mountain climb, sky dive, drive a quad or off road vehicle, ride a horse (very dangerous in someterrain and if I do itwrongharmfull to animals so lets not forget that activity)or do anything that is moderately dangerous and might cause harm or be deemed to possiblycauseto myself or others. We will license and certifyeveryone as to not offend anyones sense of safety and try to calm all fears. Way too far… I would move if I were you!


Furthermore, as to the afformentioned court case huckleberry pinned badger girl in the corner with, I could win that case. Or in the absense of 12 logicaly minded individuals hang the jury. Hmmm…just like they did in England, South Africa, and a host of other democratic countries. You must be really smart! It's a small price to pay to play.

Flame away....donning asbestos undies...