David Hendee, a good friend to Sportsmen, and writer of the outdoor section for the Omaha World Herald, wrote a fair and balanced story regarding LR40ca and the upcoming vote on November 6th.
http://www.omaha.com/article/20120925/SPORTS07/309259816/1603
I have given great thought to his story before posting this today. I understand a reporter must present a balanced middle of the road story unless they are a columnist and providing an opinion on an issue. My first take when I read the story this morning at 3:30 am was somewhat disbelief in which the way the story was written. I felt it shared too much of Senator Council’s thoughts on the issue when she was only one of three who voted against it on the floor and he did not reach out to more than one of the 41 who voted for it.
I was also struck that he did not reach out to the NSF for a statement since we did provide him as most writers in the state a press release two weeks ago and the fact that he is aware of the NSF and knows that we have been on the front lines of this issue for ten years dating back to former State Senator Ed Schrock who started this journey on behalf of sportsmen.
Instead he went out of state to get a quote, even though the NSF has tremendous respect for the U. S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and they great work they have done, they have never been in the trenches here in Nebraska working on this issue. Again my first take was it did not send the right message to people of the importance surrounding the issue.
Well as I looked at my watch this morning and realized the time that another cup of coffee and some time for reflection on how to respond to our members and Mr. Hendee would be the wise course of action.
With a renewed sense of energy from my second cup of coffee and some time for reflection and review it did become clear to me that the story is perfect and drives home the number one issue I have answered many many times over the past two years while working on LR40ca. That point is this- That we need to tell every single person we talk to regardless if they share our passions for the outdoors or not WHY WE need to protect our rights, traditions and heritage and even bigger is to protect one of Nebraska’s Economic drivers.
The bottom line is this even within our core groups of fellow Sportsmen we need to INFORM-EDUCATE AND EXPLAIN The following:
- Senator Council stated she does not see a legislative body in Nebraska that would threaten hunting & Fishing- Term limits in this state will do just that as our state sees more and more people with less connection to the land in either a AG or Outdoor activities the doors open for that very type of thing to happen – SO WHY NOT PROTECT IT NOW This is not the Nebraska of 10, 20 or 30 years ago – our demographics have changed
-HSUS would not of set up an office in Nebraska if they were not working on an agenda here- The History of HSUS of how they attack a state from first the AG side then the Sportsmen side is page 101 of their game plan manual … they have plans for Nebraska it is unfolding like every other state they have gone into. Ask the Folks in Michigan- a state similar to Nebraska when it comes to outdoor passions.
-Sportsmen are a key economic driver in this state review the numbers it is worth protecting. When in review I do feel that David did provide a well balanced information and pointed out KEY factors that the People of Omaha need to know- I am thankful I decided to reflect on this story and see the good side of it this morning.
Now that David has informed the good people of Omaha it is our job to drive home the value of LR40ca with EVERY SINGLE PERSON WE KNOW.
