However, I do not retract anything about Pennsylvania. At least not until they ban the use of flintlocks in their regular muzzleloading season (or) open an Inline-only season to match the Flintlock-only season.
Perhaps there is a time when one should "suffer Triple Seven's gladly," but this isn't one of those times. When I read repugnant swill like this from a non-hunter, non-shooter, technically incompetent fellow that is the poster boy for "Planned Parenthood," and does nothing but cut and paste the writing of others on Al Gore's Internet-- it deserves something. What I would suggest is not physically possible for most, nor is it easily described in anything but indelicate language.
I'd rather ALL muzzleloading seasons were completely abolished across the nation than to suggest that flintlocks be banned for one Mexican minute. It is this type of intolerance and bewildering brand of tripe that gives hunters a bad name. No one that cares at all about the sport of muzzleloading would make such a suggestion. It was those that favor flintlocks and sidelocks that got themselves organized in the first place, and gave ALL of us special seasons for their efforts. They deserve everyone's respect and gratitude for that.
As for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: you made a very, very poor choice to awkwardly attempt to criticize. PA has one of the most active populations of hunters per capita in the entire nation, and the Pennsylvania Game Commision is a model game commission. They maintain public shooting ranges, youth mentoring programs, and on it goes. Just on Sept. 26, $11.7 million in new investments was announced by Governor Edward G. Rendell in conservation and recreation projects that are designed to help and protect natural resources. Not only does the PA Game Commission respond, so does the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Governor, and PA citizens. That $11.7 million came from voter-approved Growing Greener II, a voter-approved $625 million bond issue, and Keystone �93, a DCNR fund generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax.
Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) is a venison donation program that has been channeling donated venison to local food banks and soup kitchens since 1991. Each year, HSH helps provide needy Pennsylvanians with 200,000 meals of quality, high-protein venison. PA is a model hunting state.
Right now, Oct. 14 - 21, is early muzzleloader season-- hunt with whatever action you want. Hunt with a crossbow, if you've got the permit.
Oct. 19-21 is a special early firearms saeson-- Juniors or seniors only, or Members of the US military. A great idea, more states should be so thoughtful.
And, yes, AFTER the regular firearms season of late Nov. early Dec., there is a flintlock season: Dec. 26 - Jan. 13th.
PA does a fabulous job trying to please everyone, and they come closer than most any other state I can think of. The state supports hunting for one and all, the voters do, and the entire population is more involved and supportive than most of the states.
In thanks for all this, an untalented, uniformed, bigoted blowhard that has never hunted outside his own state calls for a "ban" on flintlocks-- in PA. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play? The only comfort one can take away from your scatological insanity, is that the sweet knowledge that in the case of 49 out of 50 states-- you just don't live here.
Either you ran out of meds, or you are waiting for test results. Either way, you owe both PA and those that CHOOSE to hunt with flinters an apology. We need to respect other people's personal equipment choices, in the hopes that our personal choices can be respected and understood as well.
