Shooting Sports - Images & Perceptions

By Don Hall
What is your neighbor's perception seeing you enter or leave your home carrying a gun ? Some might freak out and call 911.
  How could a an intelligent person such as the Minister of Justice be so naive as to publicly state that "only the police and the military should have guns" ?
  How could all these normal, everyday type of people be hoodwinked into thinking that sporting firearms are a problem - and having the Government suddenly finding it politically expedient to tell you what you can do, and how !! It's quite easy really, all you have to do is run a public funded advertising campaign telling the readers that guns are a problem! Supplement this with press releases from interviews and the uninformed public will lap it up as the truth (it must be correct since they saw it in the paper or heard it on the radio or TV). Even Prime Minister Kim Campbell stated publicly that she kept herself well informed (on Bill C-68) as she kept in touch by reading the newspapers. Really, and believe it ?
 The shooting community has reacted very strongly to this misguided program of deceit. But the solution has not yet surfaced as the contemptuous sections of Bill C-68 continue to harass the shooting community. Furthermore, the onerous red tape is a serious impediment to future generations. So what is the solution ?
  Two avenues are obvious - first, the non-shooting public is entitled to factual information, and second, the multitude of gun owners need to be more aware of the power they have in voting.
  Getting credible information to the public is work, hard work for the volunteer. We cannot expect the "news reporter" to do it unless we are fortunate in having a writer with some knowledge of the sport. Without paid representatives it takes a huge amount of time from one's personal freedom - yet, to get the message out to the masses of voters -- well, it has to be done. It is not enough just to ensure that members of the various Rod and Gun Clubs are informed. They are not the problem, only the victims ! The message needs to be on the front page or the sports page of every newspaper in Canada.
  There is no shortage of news. Conservation issues and Club events such as Provincial, National, and International competitions are common. The people participating have an interesting life like all other sports competitors. Readers will be thrilled to get the news. Remember the photo of Olympic Gold Medallist Miriam Bedard on the front page of Chatelaine - plus a well done descriptive story of her biathalon success.
  It can be done. We have a cadre of writers in Canada all of which can be connected by e-mail. We have concerned sportsmen in every section of the country. We have newspapers, radio, and TV that are hungry for current information when crafted into an interesting story format. How can you help ?
  Start by ensuring that public relations is one of the top priorities in your Club. Speak to the Sports Editor of your local newspaper, ask for guidance in how they would like to receive reports, photos, etc.. And then do it regularly ! If you have an article of common interest to other Clubs - share it on a reciprocal basis. Developing an information network is easy with today's technology.
  To be effective we must communicate with the thousands of "want-to-be outdoors" types that rush to leave the city every weekend. This is the challenge. Are you up to it ?
 The publications do not potray that opinions expressed in these columns reflect the philosophy or position of these publications; however, readers are free to express their opinions without the fear of being censored.

The Steelheader is a Canadian outdoors and sport fishing publication in tabloid form live on newpaper stands and here on the internet devoted to all forms of sport fishing and outdoors in British Columbia and other parts of the world. The Steelheader is a well known award winning publication and has subscribers throughout North America. Subscription to the Steelheader Tabloid is available to overseas areas upon request as well-- See www.steelheadermag.com/subscription 
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