None of us have been overly excited about the prospects for the next president of these United States.  Whether it be John McCains very spotty record on the 2nd Amendment or Barrack Obama’s inability to remember just what the 2nd Amendment was/is like, those of us who adore the shooting sports have been extremely anxious about the upcoming presidential election.

Until now.

Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska has been named to be the candidate to run on the ticket with Senator John McCain and finally, the conservative gun-lovers are excited.  With Palin on the ticket, we not only have a consistent record of 2nd Amendment support, but someone who has demonstrated a long standing willingness to roll up her sleeves and fight with the big dogs to keep our rights sacred.

Palin is not a stranger to the more difficult fights.  She has taken on the interests of big oil in her home state and walked away unscathed.  She is the consummate servant to the people of Alaska and now the rest of the country who enjoys a little of the kill it and grill it spirit can band together and get behind a ticket.

The truth of the matter is that regardless of what issues in this next election cycle you consider to be “yours,” remember that the 2nd Amendment was so important that many states wouldn’t ratify the Constitution until it was absolutely included and made sure that it guaranteed that the “right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” meant that every American citizen could have access to the right.

Governor Palin was a very good choice on the part of John McCain and we’ll see just where the Obama/Biden ticket runs to where the 2nd Amendment is concerned.

First, the story:

Saturday, August 16 marked the annual Oklahoma Rifle Association (ORA) Convention and awards ceremony and without a doubt t was one for the record books.  Wayne LaPierre was the keynote speaker and as the Executive Vice President of the NRA, he knows how to fire up the troops.  LaPierre spoke about the Heller case that the SCOTUS recently ruled upon, how though individuals are now guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms, the fight is hardly over.  In Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and even Washington D.C., city councils and mayors are working to more narrowly interpret the SCOTUS case.  The NRA’s response:  To file suit against those cities to ensure the average citizen maintains the right to keep and bear arms.

The ORA banquet saw what was arguably the largest turnout in recent history.  Three of the five members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation were present and had time to speak to the crowd.  Congressman Tom Cole, Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Congressman Dan Boren all talked about the importance of the 2nd Amendment to them and to Oklahomans in general.  The funniest quote of the evening was from Tom Cole who said, “It’s ironic that in D.C. turkey hunting guns had been banned for so long because the floor of the house is a target rich environment.”

Lt. Governor Jari Askins also spoke and she did so without notes and without a proverbial net.  It was the first time I had seen her speak in public and she was phenomenal.  Touching all the right buttons on the issues of gun rights in Oklahoma, how we need to ensure that we continue to support our veterans and that without our veterans, we wouldn’t have the rights we do.  She is one impressive lady.

Now to the awards ceremony -there were two awards of particular interest to me.  First, the Mike McCarville Media Award recipient this year was the Oklahoman’s outdoor editor Ed Godfrey.  Second, the Legislator of the Year this year was Guthrie’s Representative Jason Murphy.  Murphy authored the campus concealed carry bill that eventually died in the Senate because, in my opinion, there are too many in the Oklahoma State Senate who are looking to run for higher office and since the university presidents in Oklahoma banded together around their flag of Great Britain and screamed against the individual right to keep and bear arms on their “sanctuaries of higher learning,” many in leadership in the State Senate grabbed their ankles and killed the bill in committee.

Cowards.

While it is true that Oklahomans will get to vote on a Constitutional amendment to protect hunting and fishing in Oklahoma and this was brought about in part by State Senate President Pro-Tem Glenn Coffee, he kissed the proverbial pooch on the campus concealed carry bill by shuttling it off to a committee where the members wouldn’t know the difference between a semi-auto and a revolver if their lives depended upon it.

Last year, Representative Jerry Ellis won the award and I was the 2007 ORA Media Award recipient.

At the end of the day, we got some great film for WILD Oklahoma television and ended up coming home with a new lever-action 30-30 Suzanne bid on.

If you’re not a member of the Oklahoma Rifle Association or if you’re not a member of your state’s NRA affiliate, I highly recommend you join today.

Hunters, Anglers and Sportsmen Pay Tribute to Veterans

August 16, 2007
Contact: Ron Black
gorilla@wildoklahoma.com

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: An Oklahoma-based paralyzed veterans organization is receiving a lot of attention lately and it’s coming from Oklahoma’s sportsmen and women. Hunters and anglers in Oklahoma are reaching out to raise awareness and much-needed revenue for Oklahoma’s very own Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“The MAPVA is comprised men and women who advocate for disabled veterans (many of whom are disabled veterans themselves) throughout the state and hunters and anglers appreciate the sacrifice these incredible men and women,” said Ron Black, founder of WILD Oklahoma - an Oklahoma based hunting and fishing television and radio program. “Without our men and women in the military, we wouldn’t have our right to keep and bear arms, nor would we be able to participate in the outdoors activities we so love – it’s time for us to pay tribute to them.”

The PVA Celebration, as Black calls it, is slated for August 23rd beginning at 4pm at the Del City VFW Hall and will feature food, beverages, face painting for the kids, live auction items ranging from a Buster Boat to guided hunts to a trip to Las Vegas, door prizes and numerous Oklahoma elected officials will be in attendance to thank Oklahoma veterans for their sacrificial service to our country.

Congresswoman Mary Fallin, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, Representative Joe Dorman, Representative John Enns, Del City Mayor Brian Linley and State Senator Kenneth Corn are just a few on the long list of elected officials who will be opening their hearts and hopefully their wallets to support the MAPVA. Oklahoma radio legend Mike McCarville will be a guest speaker as well.

“I am overwhelmed by the support we have received thus far in this endeavor and each day shows more,” said Black. “The Iron Plainsmen motorcycle club has even scheduled a poker run to help raise funds on the 23rd of August also. Already, we’re planning next year’s event at a much bigger venue.”

“To think this all started with a little turkey hunt in Northeast Oklahoma is almost mind boggling.”

Proceeds from the event go directly to the Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America and benefit Oklahoma veterans and members of the MAPVA exclusively.

Future veterans events are being scheduled by WILD Oklahoma Radio and & Television for Northeast Oklahoma, Southeast Oklahoma and Northwest Oklahoma. WILD Oklahoma television is broadcast on Fox 25 in Oklahoma City, KSWX in Lawton and coming soon to the Tulsa and McAlester markets.

www.wildoklahoma.com

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How often is it we find ourselves faced with an opportunity to truly impact the lives of others, and so doing, create a ground swell of enthusiasm?  If you’re like me, it doesn’t come about very frequently.

Fortunately, the proverbial lightning has struck for me and the WILD Oklahoma pro staff this year.

We filmed a hunt with the Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America in Miami, Oklahoma earlier this year and as I may have mentioned and as I wrote in the Oklahoma Gazette, it was a life changing and life affirming event for myself and everyone involved.  As a veteran, I was moved by the enthusiasm and excitement of my brothers and sisters in arms who have faced some of the most difficult challenges anyone could imagine.

One soldier we hunted with had taken a head shot while in Afghanistan, serving with Oklahoma’s 45th.  He was and is ambulatory, but emotionally still has some issues and some fine motor skills are problematic, but the enthusiasm and excitement to get out in the woods and slay a thunder chicken was absolutely infectious.

We decided that this was the time to do something for these guys.  We at WILD Oklahoma made the decision to host a fundraiser and awareness campaign for the MAPVA and we’re kicking it off on Saturday, August 23rd at the Del City VFW Hall.  What we thought were going to be around 100 in attendance is now well over 700 - and this from word of mouth, our television program and radio program.  We have seen enormous support for this event and let me tell you, we’re humbled by it.

When opportunities come about to make a difference, I encourage you to pick up the torch and do it.  You’ll be blessed beyond your wildest dreams.

The National Rifle Association wraps up its event this past weekend and already the emails and messages have flooded the WILD Oklahoma email boxes regarding the upcoming presidential election.  Gun owners are fearful of the looming demise of what everyone is speculating will be the Republican Party.

But be not afraid -there are Blue Dog Democrats that have become a bee in the bonnet of Speaker Pelosi.

Gun rights, in many states, transcend party lines and that is the case in Oklahoma and other Southern States.  Hunting rights often equate to gun rights and the two should not be divorced as some presume.  Hunters and shooters have had a love/hate relationship for many years, the upland game bird hunters sparring with the deer hunters and the coon hunters bickering with the pheasant hunters and in the background, IPSC members have been dueling with hog hunters.  And all of it to the detriment of law-abiding citizens who simply want to protect their homes and families from bad guys.

Blue Dog Democrats and conservative Republicans embrace the shooting sports and most of both are hunters and anglers.  This is where there exists strength in numbers.  If we unite under the same banner of 2nd Amendment support, the nation wins.  You see, there is nothing more frightening to the criminal element than an armed citizenry.  And having a few dead critters hung up in your garage can be an amazing deterrent to would-be trouble makers.

Many are concerned about whether or not the next election cycle will create problems for 2nd Amendment supporters with two of the three candidates talking about implementation of a new and improved so-called assault weapons ban.  BUT, never forget that there are still three branches of government and without the consent of the legislative branch, the White House cannot implement such a ban and can even be found outside of the bounds of the Constitution.

The upcoming decision by the Supreme Court will set the stage for the future, but in the meantime, the WILD Oklahoma crew highly recommends you go out and purchase the ammo and firearms today rather than simply waiting to see what happens.

And by the way, here is a good story to read as well.

Ron