The game commission has set the upcoming seasons for hunting. These will be published later in the new hunting guides.

Deer Nov. 11-26, Archery Sept 2-Jan 15, Cross Bow Oct 1-22 and Nov 11-Dec 31, Youth Only Oct 14-15, Muzzle Loader Oct 21-22 and Dec 9-17, Free Youth Dec 30-31.

Turkey Archery Sept 2-15 Jan, Cross Bow (same as for deer), shotgun Oct 28-Nov 3 and Dec 2-8

Squirrel Aug 19-Nov 10 and Nov 13-Feb 28

Rabbit and Quail Nov 13-Feb 10

Early Raccoon and Possum Nov 1

Trapping and Regular coon and possum seasons Nov 13-Feb 28.

Tom Remington

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R) Colorado, proposed an amendment to a bill requiring trigger locks on guns, that would overturn a law passed last year. The amendment passed the House.

Last year as part of the law that was wrangled about in Congress about liability of gun sellers and manufacturers, the Senate attached to that bill the requirement that all hand gun sales come equipped with a trigger lock – an additional $5 – $7 per sale.

Opponents of the required trigger lock say that adding the 5-7 dollar fee to the sale is an unlawful tax levied onto gun buyers. They also say the lock, if used, would prevent people from gaining access to their guns quickly in times of emergency. In addition, responsible gun owners, that would be the lawful ones, say they don’t need government telling them how to be safe.

Proponents of the locks say it would save some of the 30,000 accidental gun deaths in the U.S. each year.

Where is the NRA on this issue? See related story.

Tom Remington

RedState.com has a story about the Musgrave Amendment that would stop the feds from requiring every handgun sold to be equipped with a trigger lock, a law that took affect April 26, 2006.

The NRA remained silent to the amendment stating they were too busy to get involved. RedState says the NRA only gets involved in gun rights issues they know they can win. Is this true? Read Redstates’ take on the subject and let us know what you think.

Tom Remington

18-year old Garrett Bradshaw entered a plea agreement with Oregon authorities and was sentenced to 18 months probation and a forfeiture of his hunting privileges for two years. Also part of the deal includes a $1,100 fine, loss of rifle and he cannot be in any vehicle where there is a gun.

Bradshaw was just one of several accused in a poaching ring that took place in and around the Black Point area. A photograph that was recovered by investigators shows Bradshaw and his younger brother standing next to a 9-point black tail buck deer they had shot. Bradshaw cooperated with authorities and a plea agreement was reached.

A search warrant for a Black Point residence back in January produced dozens of guns, 12 sets of deer antlers, countless pictures and videos, ammunition and a bag containing 35 beards from wild turkeys.

There are a total of six accused in this case. Bradshaws plea was the third. Others before him have also reached plea bargain agreements. The ring leader is 21-year old Stephen Price. He has yet to go to trial or reach a plea.

Tom Remington

With all the debate and wrangling within the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the state Legislature about where they would get enough money to keep the commission operational, politicians have decided to keep the fees the same for this year but are pushing for next. Lancaster Online has the story.

Tom Remington

Here’s one man’s take on why, if there is a battle between animal rights groups and hunters, why the animal rights groups might be winning.

Tom Remington

A Wisconsin Senate committee is considering some changes to the Wisconsin deer gun hunting season in chronic wasting disease zones. The committee wants to shorten the season and allow hunters to bag as many deer as they want.

What is prompting officials to look at making changes is the fact that the deer population continues to grow and is too big in these CWD zones.

Tom Remington

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan keeps saying that the UN isn’t interested in denying lawful citizens the right to own firearms, yet we are hearing from different countries asking for support, including financial, to help them disarm all of their citizenry.

Cam Edwards at TownHall.com is covering the conference and files a report on day three’s activities. Here are some of the highlights of his report.

Hearing Angola and Cambodia detail their plans for rounding up all the guns owned by civilians is kind of like hearing that the Dixie Chicks are writing a song about America. You just know something bad’s going to happen in the end. And yet, that’s exactly what we heard on day 3 of the UN’s summit on small arms (Angola and Cambodia, not the Dixie Chicks. They haven’t been granted a seat on the Security Council… yet).

Angola, a country devastated by 24 years of civil war, is now in the process of making sure that citizens can never again revolt against the government. Minister of Justice Manuel Miguel da Costa Aragão told the assembled nations the, “disarmament process is being carried out in a systematic manner and on the basis of information provided by the population.” Even better, Angola wants other countries to help pay for the disarming of its citizens. The Justice Minister also said, “we seize this opportunity to ask for the support of the international community in the difficult task of disarming the civilian population.”

And in Cambodia, pretty much the same thing.

Also speaking on Wednesday morning was Cambodian Undersecretary of State Sieng Lapresse. Cambodia, where over a million civilians lost their lives in a genocide, has banned the civilian possession of firearms. The fact that the Khmer Rouge were able to rule the country with an iron fist in part because of the strict gun control laws in place has been lost on the United Nations. I’m pretty sure the Cambodian government understands, however.

The State Department says the Cambodian government’s human rights record got worse in 2005, not better. “Contrary to past years,” it says, “there were no reports of politically motivated killings… however, extrajudicial killings occurred.” So the government killing civilians wasn’t political in nature. Well, that’s a relief.

The Cambodian genocide took place just a generation ago. Yet already the Cambodian government is disarming its citizens, with the approval and help of the United Nations and its disarmament program. In a perfect world, the United Nations would be holding an armament program for the people of Cambodia. It would understand the right of self-protection. It would understand that the State isn’t always the good guy.

The only way that the United Nations can gain world dominance is by controlling every government in countries globally. History shows us that this is accomplished by disarming the citizens. Call this a domino affect or whatever, but if the UN is allowed to continue its interference, no matter to what degree, they eventually will succeed.

They can whittle away at the United States Constitution and succeed as well, although it may take more time. They understand that there are already those in this country working toward the same goals as the UN. The gun grabbers in this country refuse to understand the importance of the 2nd Amendment when drafted by our founding fathers. They knew that without an armed citizenry the country would soon fail.

The UN needs to but out of our business and those of other countries. Intelligent people know that the UN is a corrupt and useless organization in which American taxpayers contribute way too much money. The U.S. should in protest, stop making payments to the UN and withdraw its membership.

Tom Remington

Florida is one of several states that has a new law that clarifies the use of deadly force to protect oneself against the fear of personal harm. As has been discussed often, previous law interpretation had evolved into requiring a homeowner to exhaust all attempts at retreat, etc. before resorting to deadly force. The new law says that if an individual feels their life is in danger, they can use deadly force.

In Fort Meyers, Florida a event happened between two neighbors. Here’s what I have according to News-Press.com. Evidently the two neighbors were not getting along. One neighbor, the Frazzinis, suspected their next door neighbors, the Rasmussens, of harrassment – spray painting things on their house for one.

Here’s what happened.

Michael Frazzini was trespassing on Todd Rasmussen’s property beyond a fence the night of March 28, according to the state’s attorney office. Frazzini was wearing a military-issue camouflage mesh mask and carrying a camera and a small souvenir baseball bat, authorities said.

Cory Rasmussen, 22, jumped over the fence and confronted Frazzini with a knife, family members told police. Todd Rasmussen, Cory’s father, told the trespasser that he was armed. The Rasmussens say Frazzini lunged at Cory Rasmussen with the bat before Todd Rasmussen shot the man in the chest, killing him.
Members of Michael Frazzini’s family say the military veteran suspected Cory Rasmussen was harassing his mother, who lived next door.
“My husband was trying to collect evidence Cory was spraying graffiti on her house,” she said. “He was standing his ground as well.”

It is difficult to know in this case whether the Rasmussens actually knew who was trespassing as Frazzini was in cammies and had a mask on. Could other things have been done before resorting to deadly force? Perhaps but I wasn’t there.

Many knew it would only be a matter of time before this new law would be challenged in court. It is with this process that laws get defined and precendents set. If the Frazzinis decide to challenge the fact that authorities aren’t going to charge Rasmussen in court, it would be the first such case in Florida since the law took effect in October of last year.

Tom Remington

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering bow hunting classes for what they call the serious bow hunter on July 15 in Tallahassee. More information here.

Tom Remington