OK, here we go! Some of the biggest items in the news of late have been related to the resulting concerns over gun

ownership and the 2nd Ammendment in general since the election. Rightly or wrongly, many feel squarely in the bull’s

eye of pending laws and regulations that may or may not come from the new administration. The result has been a

boon for gun and ammo manufacturer and retailers, with a shortage of many products, long waits for others and prices on

the rise. Read more here. So we were wondering how all this has affected you. Have you made any recent gun or ammo

purchases out of concern for future regulations that you may not have made otherwise? Are you stocking up on ammo?

And while we’re talking about outside influences on your buying patterns and/or personal habits, has the economy

affected your hunting in recent months? Are you cancelling or taking less trips? Hunting closer to home? Curious

minds want to know, and on a related subject, do you plan on attending this year’s Fundraiser?

Now let’s talk about some recent proposed Texas firearm legislation. One would allow those with a permit to carry to

bring firearms on campuses and universities. Proponents say allowing guns on campus could prevent tragedies

like what happened at Virginia Tech and others. Those against the idea say students and guns don’t mix, period. For

more on this read this AP Article from the Houston Chronicle, and then weigh in with your opinion.

In another Texas bill dealing with firearms, the Texas Senate passed a provision that would prohibit employers from

enforcing restrictions against employees possessing legally owned handguns and ammunition inside a locked

vehicle while in a company parking lot. Gun owners cite 2nd amendment rights, and the bill’s author, Sen. Glenn

Hegar, R-Katy, says people that want to bring a gun to the workplace for their ability to protect themselves while they

travel are going to do it whether there’s a policy against it or not, and the bill is simply designed to stop employers

from punishing employees who legally bring weapons to work. Business owners and Bill Hammond, president of the

Texas Association of Business believe it’s a basic property right that should be preserved. And in today’s economic

climate he worries of a terminated or laid off employee easily getting his hands on a gun in seconds, creating a

workplace disaster. Where to you weigh in? You can read more, if you wish, in the following Houston Chronicle article.

Have you heard that TPWD may be raising fishing and hunting licenses? We’re only talking maybe 5%, the cost of a

“box of dove loads or a quart of live shrimp” as Shannon Tompkins puts it in his Chronicle column. But in today’s cost

cutting economy and everyone’s attempt to save a dollar where they can, what do you think? We’re looking at a $2-$4

increase in most licenses, and it’s estimated that it would raise TPWD revenues by $3.8 million a year. A 5% increase

in boat fees would bring in another $1.7million in additional revenue. So here’s the question, would an such an

increase cause you to forgo any license?

And in another related story, you may remember the issue regarding invasive, non-native aquatic species plaguing

the waterways of Texas, and the authorization to let TWPD eradicate the troublemakers where feasible. Well it turns

out a good deal of the problems rests squarely in our own backyards, or rather our boats and trailers. “Hitchhiking”

organisms get transplanted daily by careless anglers and boaters that don’t clean their equipment before heading

from one body of water to the next. (For more on this read Shannon Tompkins recent Chronicle article). While there

are laws in place to fine transgressors, it’s had spotty enforcement. Talk now is that to get a handle on the situation a

crackdown on boaters is necessary, with heavy fines I the hundreds if not thousands of dollars to educate the public

on the seriousness of the situation. Do you feel that increased enforcement, with accompanying fines, is justified?

So what did you think of that last issues before us? When it came to accepting Jim Zumbo back into the fold, nearly 6

out of 10 said yes. Only the questions boater sobriety checkpoints and the new turkey seasons were closer. The final

tally was 59.3% for giving Jim another shot, 40.7% saying cut the cord forever. (Seems our

membership reflected the general public’s opinion, as Jim has since regained his footing, continuing with his Outdoor

Channel tv program and sponsors such as Honda, Evinrude and Swarovski back on board, to name a few.

Then we asked you whether you were in favor of opening up a 95,000 acre tract southeast of Alaska’s McNeil River

State Game Sanctuary for bear hunting. You overwhelmingly supported that 76.8% to 23.2%. (This issue, bantered

about since 2005, is still under review).

And what of ethanol? More ethanol production means less dependence on oil, but at a cost, including energy and

fossil fuels used in production and the possible loss of habitat. When asked if you thought the state’s Conservation

Reserve Program should be altered to allow more crop production for ethanol at the expense of habitat, again the

vote was overwhelming: 72.1% of you said NO. (Legislatures have other ideas, however. The 2008 Farm Bill lowered

the cap on CRP acres, when 1.1 million acres were removed from the program. In September of this year 3.8 million

acres are set to expire followed by 4.4 million in 2010.)

The Texas Legislature is still wrangling in the aftermath of HB6, designed to restore full funding to TPWD from our

hunting and fishing sales tax, licenses and permits revenues. You supported full funding of these funds to TPWD by

over a 50 point margin (75.3% to 24.7%).

As for SB 626 requiring mandatory boater education, you gave this measure a 71.2% thumbs up.

(It was left pending incommittee).

On whether to allow sobriety checkpoints to be set up on our public waterways, your opinions were not so clear cut.

56.6% of you said yes, 43.4% no. (Left in committee).

HB 1309 sought to update the laws preventing wasting of game and dangers of exotics species introduced in the Texas

habitat, and establish the first statewide regulation of exotic reptiles. You favored this proposal 72.6 to 27.4%.

(This passed).

In a related measure allowing TPWD to implement a program to control or eradicate nuisance or noxious non-native

aquatic vegetation, again the vote was overwhelmingly in favor, 72.6% to 27.4%. (This also passed).

Glass on our beaches? 68.9% of you would be fine with a ban. (It’s currently out of committee and set for a vote).

A whopping 89.5% of you favored exempting those 65 years of age and older from fishing license requirements, and

70.2% thought they should be allowed to use crossbows during archery-only hunting seasons.

(Unfortunately neither passed).

Finally, when it came to the new proposed changes in turkey hunting zones and seasons, the vote was close with

52.6% in favor and 47.4% against the changes. (They were enacted).