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Kansas Hunter Education Instructors Welcome Guest Speaker Dr. James Tantillo

Orion - The Hunters Institute

Kansas --(AmmoLand.com)- Hunting is one of the safest ways to enjoy the outdoors, and making it ever safer will be a primary topic at the 2010 Kansas Hunter Education Instructor Academy, held March 26-28. Volunteer instructors from Kansas and neighboring states also will delve into the topic of hunting ethics with invited guest speaker Dr. James Tantillo.

Tantillo, who teaches ethics and environmental philosophy at Cornell University and sits on the board of directors for Orion – The Hunters’ Institute, will deliver a keynote address titled The Morality of Hunting: “A Damnable Pleasure.”

Plus, participants will get the chance to examine the differences between hunter ethics and hunter preferences during breakout sessions hosted by Tantillo.

“Most people today who think about hunting tend to lump all value questions together under the heading “ethics” without regard for whether that classification is accurate,” Tantillo said. “In reality, hunting ethics usually involve more aesthetic than ethical issues.”

Tantillo went on to say the tendency for sportsmen and women to impose their personal hunting values or behaviors on others to improve the image of hunting may be well intended but can cause infighting and ultimately erode efforts to uphold our hunting traditions.

Orion – The Hunters’ Institute has long supported the work of hunter education programs across North America starting with Jim Posewitz, the organization’s founder. The partnership between Orion and hunter education programs has been responsible for shaping millions of new hunters.

During the weekend hunter education academy, a variety of other breakout sessions on safety, hunter ethics and responsibility will be conducted by representatives from the Treestand Manufacturer’s Association and Kansas and North Dakota volunteer hunter education instructors. Awards presentations and program updates will round out the weekend.

For more information about the academy, contact Wayne Doyle at wayne.doyle@ksoutdoors.com.

About Orion – The Hunters’ Institute
Orion is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to ethical hunting and the wild resources essential to that purpose. Founded by Jim Posewitz in 1993, the organization is dedicated to preserving hunting as an important part of our North American conservation heritage through teaching hunter ethics and expanding society’s knowledge of the conservation legacy that was born in the embers of the hunter’s fire.

Orion is best known for its strong stance on ethical hunting and promoting the value of North American’s hunting heritage. “Beyond Fair Chase,” which was written by Posewitz, is a standard for hunter education classes in North America with 500,000 copies in circulation. For more information, please contact us at 802-730-8111 or visit www.huntright.org

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Kansas Firearms Freedom Act Hearing Scheduled (HB 2620)
Please attend this hearing to show your support.

Kansas State Rifle Association

Topeka, KS --(AmmoLand.com)- A hearing has been scheduled for HB 2620, The Kansas Firearms Freedom Act, in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee for this Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 1:30pm in Room 346-S.

The Kansas Firearms Freedom Act, House Bill 2620, crafted by The Kansas State Rifle Association was introduced in the Kansas House of Representatives by Representative Ray Merrick and several other co-sponsors.

The Firearms Freedom Act (FFA) is principally a Tenth Amendment challenge to the powers of Congress under the “commerce clause,” with firearms as the object – it is a state’s rights exercise. Originally introduced and passed in Montana, the FFA declares that any firearms made and retained in-state is beyond the authority of Congress under its constitutional power to regulate commerce among the states.

“The FFA may affect congressional authority other than for firearms.” said Patricia Stoneking, President of the Kansas State Rifle Association. “This legislation is actually about reducing excessive Federal regulation in areas such as education and intrastate trade.”

Proponents contend that the commerce clause was amended, by the Tenth Amendment, and that the Tenth Amendment, being the most recent expression of the enacting authority, must prevail over an unlimited interpretation of commerce clause authority to regulate firearms made and retained in a state.

The Montana Shooting Sports Association and the Second Amendment Foundation have filed a lawsuit in federal court to validate the principles of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act. The renewed debate over states rights and the pending litigation over the FFA have set the stage for re-examination of the scope of federal commerce clause authority. While it is still unclear exactly where this re-examination will end up, the outcome could drastically change application of federal authority.

“The Firearms Freedom Act has been enacted by two states, Montana and Tennessee.” said Stoneking. “Kansas makes the twenty-first additional state to introduce this bill and five other states have expressed their intentions to introduce this legislation at this time.”

STATUS: Hearing Scheduled for March 11, 2010 at 1:30pm in Room 346-S.

CLICK THIS LINK TO READ THE BILL

About:
The Kansas State Rifle Association has one purpose. To promote and strive for the improvement and protection of the firearms and sport shooting industry and protection of second amendment principals by encouraging and stimulating well-qualified individual citizens to run for public office and to take a more active and effective part in governmental affairs. Visit: www.ksraweb.net

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