Some
folks have asked if the Montana Sportsmen Alliance “…supports the
second amendment.” That is indeed a broad question, given the
numerous political and social issues that firearms ownership and use
means these days. The short answer is yes. But this bears some
explanation.
Firearms
have been and are an integral part of Montana’s history, traditions
and culture, and certainly our hunting heritage. Our membership
includes hunters, target and trap shooters, collectors, outdoor
writers, gunsmiths, wildlife professionals, law enforcement officers
and a wide array of other folks whose avocations and vocations
revolve around guns. As such, MSA unequivocally supports the
ownership and use of firearms, the second amendment (as well as the
other 27 and the Montana Constitution) that makes such a right as
well as all lawful, appropriate, and ethical uses ownership entails.
We
are proud that our membership crosses social, economic and political
lines. It has always been our belief that conservation is not the
sole property of a particular political party or ideology but of all
the people. Our membership has proven this time and time again when
members who, in other political or social situations or discussions,
couldn’t be farther apart come together as MSA. We are unified on
behalf of fish and wildlife, wild lands, good stewardship and
management, access and in sum, keeping the “Best” in “The Last
Best Place.”
The
MSA was founded and operates as a conservation organization. We began
in order to fill what we believed was a serious void in the effective
and informed advocacy for the wild resources that we, as Montanans,
hold dear to our way of life, and our ability to enjoy and enhance
our outdoor legacy. We saw —and still see— a growing threat to
appropriate, reasoned, science-based management and opportunity and
as such have tried to remain a focused, unified voice. We therefore
pick our battles and direct our efforts and limited resources to
those issues which we believe are fundamental to our purpose.
Firearms
— their ownership, use, possession, misuse, et al— have hit the
spotlight both nationally and here in Montana. There are many
organizations whose sole purpose is to work exclusively in those
arenas. MSA has, at times, allied itself with some of these groups
in efforts where they align with our main conservation purposes. We
opposed using suppressors for big game hunting because of ethical and
legal issues- not because of gun use or ownership. We oppose I-177
because we believe it has ramifications for hunting, constitutes
fundamentally flawed wildlife management and public policy and would
further politicize the already over-politicized resource management
process. But because of the huge array of sub and side issues, MSA
must remain true to its primary conservation mission and not divide
its efforts. Just as important, however, we whole-heartedly support
and encourage our members to individually follow their beliefs and
consciences and to be actively involved with whatever groups they
chose and their issues.
So
again, does the MSA support the second amendment? Absolutely.
