Edit filter log

'{{Infobox organization |name = American Hunters and Shooters Association |image = AHSA_logo.PNG |image_border = |size = |alt = |caption = |map = |msize = |malt = |mcaption = |abbreviation = |motto = |formation = |extinction = |type = [[Lobbying|Lobby]] |status = |purpose = |headquarters = |location = |region_served = USA |language = |leader_title = |leader_name = |main_organ = |parent_organization = |affiliations = |num_staff = |num_volunteers = |budget = |website = |remarks = }} '''The American Hunters and Shooters Association''' ('''AHSA'''), founded in 2005, was a United States-based non-profit, non-partisan<ref>http://www.huntersandshooters.org/about/who</ref> group which advocated for increased [[gun control]]. The group endorsed [[Barack Obama]] for president in 2008. Schoenke said AHSA was intended to bridge the gap between urban liberals and rural gun owners and did many events in support of Obama, but had to close down due to a lack of membership.<ref name="WPObamaSkeet">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/the-white-houses-curious-silence-about-obamas-claim-of-skeet-shooting/2013/01/30/be78bb10-6b35-11e2-95b3-272d604a10a3_blog.html Glenn Kessler, "The White House’s curious silence about Obama’s claim of skeet shooting"], Washington Post, Fact Checker, 31 Jan 2013.</ref> Critics, including the [[National Rifle Association]], questioned the legitimacy of the group, including whether the membership was composed of or representative of gun owners, or was merely a [[front organization]] for misleading political endorsements.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fieldandstream.com/pages/meet-american-hunters-and-shooters-association | title=Meet the American Hunters and Shooters Association | publisher=Field and Stream | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.saysuncle.com/2008/02/29/american_hunters_and_shooters_association_screech-2/ | title=American Hunters and Shooters Association Screech | publisher=SayUncle (blog) | accessdate=February 15, 2012}}</ref> ==Description== The AHSA described itself as "... a national grassroots organization committed to safe and responsible gun ownership" and "... a mainstream group of hunters who are looking to belong to a gun owners association that doesn't have a radical agenda",<ref>{{cite web |title=AHSA Programs |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.org/about/who |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081025113350/http://www.huntersandshooters.org/about/who |archivedate=25 October 2008 |deadurl=no |accessdate=December 14, 2012}}</ref> and as a as a moderate, common-sense advocacy organization. It favored most restrictions on firearms, but believed that little progress will be made until gun owners are allowed to bring their common-sense perspective to the table.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/american_hunters_and_shooters_association_responds_to_its_critics/C41/L41/ |title=American Hunters and Shooters Association Responds to its Critics |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Ray Schoenke |date=2008-09-19 |publisher=NewWest Travel and Outdoors - Guest Commentary |quote=Ray’s wife Nancy is also connected politically. Like many wives of gun owners she is an independent thinker and does not like guns. She took a seat on the board of the Brady Campaign but soon became frustrated with the group’s lack of progress. Ray told her that progress would not be made until gun owners were allowed to bring their common sense perspective to the table. As a result, Nancy closed the family checkbook, resigned from the Brady board, and encouraged Ray to start AHSA.| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081122130414/http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/american_hunters_and_shooters_association_responds_to_its_critics/C41/L41/| archivedate= 22 November 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}} </ref> In March 2008, [[Brady Campaign]] President [[Paul Helmke]] stated that he saw his organization's issues "as complementary to" those of the AHSA.<ref> {{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/17/AR2008031702579_pf.html |title=New Pro-Gun Group Hopes to Draw From the NRA |accessdate=2008-11-08 |author=Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2008-03-18 }}</ref> Despite the similarity in name, AHSA had no ties to the field marksmanship promoting organization, the Hunter's Shooting Association (HSA). == History == In June 2006, Executive Director Bob Ricker formally introduced AHSA at a press conference at the annual conference of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.newwest.net/index.php/main/article/saving_hunters_from_the_nra/ |title=Saving Hunters From the NRA |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Bill Schneider |date=2006-06-21 |publisher=NewWest Travel and Outdoors }} </ref> Mr. Ricker proclaimed at this conference that the NRA and other 2nd Amendment rights organizations did not address the specific concerns of hunters - protecting hunting lands and wildlife habitats - which led to the creation of AHSA.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.tonydean.com/issues2.html?sectionid=7648 |title=NRA Does Not Represent Both Hunters and Gun Owners |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Bill Schneider |publisher=Tony Dean Outdoors - Issues }}</ref> In 2007, President [[Ray Schoenke]] addressed the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]].<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/events/summit_ahsa-speech.shtml |title=Speech by Ray Schoenke, President of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, at the Mayors' Against Illegal Guns 2007 National Summit (transcript and video links) |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Ray Schoenke |publisher=Mayors Against Illegal Guns }}</ref> As of October 19, 2010 The AHSA website has been taken down. President Schoenke stated that the group was closed because of lack of membership.<ref name="WPObamaSkeet" /> == Stated goals == The AHSA web site indicated four general programs:<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=47 |title=AHSA Programs |accessdate=2008-07-28 |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) }}</ref> *"Protecting our sporting heritage" *"Hunting and fishing conservation" *"Gun safety" *"Law enforcement training, outreach and development" == Leadership == == History == In June 2006, Executive Director Bob Ricker formally introduced AHSA at a press conference at the annual conference of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.newwest.net/index.php/main/article/saving_hunters_from_the_nra/ |title=Saving Hunters From the NRA |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Bill Schneider |date=2006-06-21 |publisher=NewWest Travel and Outdoors }} </ref> Ricker said at this conference that the NRA and other 2nd Amendment rights organizations did not address the specific concerns of hunters - protecting hunting lands and wildlife habitats - which led to the creation of AHSA.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.tonydean.com/issues2.html?sectionid=7648 |title=NRA Does Not Represent Both Hunters and Gun Owners |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Bill Schneider |publisher=Tony Dean Outdoors - Issues }}</ref> In 2007, President [[Ray Schoenke]] addressed the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]].<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/events/summit_ahsa-speech.shtml |title=Speech by Ray Schoenke, President of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, at the Mayors' Against Illegal Guns 2007 National Summit (transcript and video links) |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Ray Schoenke |publisher=Mayors Against Illegal Guns }}</ref> As of October 19, 2010 The AHSA website has been taken down. President Schoenke stated that the group was closed because of lack of membership.<ref name="WPObamaSkeet" /> == Stated goals == The AHSA web site indicated four general programs:<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=47 |title=AHSA Programs |accessdate=2008-07-28 |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) }}</ref> *"Protecting our sporting heritage" *"Hunting and fishing conservation" *"Gun safety" *"Law enforcement training, outreach and development" == Leadership == The leaders of the AHSA were{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}: *[[Ray Schoenke]], Founding President. A former football player for the [[Washington Redskins]], Schoenke ran for Governor of [[Maryland]] in 1998 as a Democrat. He is a millionaire and has contributed to numerous Democratic politicians and causes.<ref> {{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/mdstateleg/govrace/schoenke1.htm |title=Against Long Odds, Ex-Redskin Is Ready to Challenge Glendening |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Amy Argetsinger |publisher=Washington Post | date=1998-01-20 }}</ref> Schoenke has donated to [[Handgun Control, Inc.]], which actively lobbies to ban some types of firearms,<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.php?name=schoenke%2C+ray&state=&zip=&employ=&cand=handgun+control&all=Y&sort=N&capcode=hq59t&submit=Submit |title=Open Secrets - Donor Lookup: Find Individual and Soft Money Contributors |accessdate=2008-11-07 |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics - OpenSecrets.org }}</ref> and he was on the Maryland Governor's Commission on Gun Violence in 1996.<ref>http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-04-28/news/1995118006_1_glendening-gun-control-gun-violence</ref> *Joseph J. Vince, Jr., a member of the Board of Directors is the former chief of the [[BATF]]'s crime guns analysis branch. Currently, he is a principal of [http://www.crimegunsolutions.com/careers.htm Crime Gun Solutions]. Crime Gun Solutions has worked for the [[Brady Center]], providing data analysis supportive of the Federal Assault Weapons Act,<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.bradycenter.org/xshare/pdf/reports/on_target.pdf |title=The Impact of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapon Act |accessdate=2008-11-11 |author=Brian J. Siebel, et al. |publisher=[[Brady Center]] to Prevent Gun Violence (self-published) |date=March 2004| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081113032530/http://www.bradycenter.org/xshare/pdf/reports/on_target.pdf| archivedate= 13 November 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and has provided ballistics evidence and analysis in lawsuits against firearm dealers.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.gunlawsuits.org/xshare/pdf/reports/lethal-lous.pdf |title=Lethal Lou's - Profile of a Rogue Gun Dealer: Lou's Loan |accessdate=2008-11-11 |author=Elizabeth S. Haile, et al. |publisher=[[Brady Center]] to Prevent Gun Violence (self-published) |date=September 2006 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> He was a signer on a letter submitted to Congress opposing the [[Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act]]<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-h20051020-23 |title=GovTrack: House Record: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (109-h20051020-23) |accessdate=2008-11-11 |publisher=GovTrack.us }}</ref> * Jody Powell, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board * A. Austin Dorr, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board * John E. Rosenthal, a founding member of AHSA who left in 2007,<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1419 |title=AHSA Press Release - John Rosenthal no longer with the American Hunters & Shooters Association (AHSA) |accessdate=2008-11-11 |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) |date=2008-02-21 }}</ref> is one of the founders of ''[[Stop Handgun Violence]]'', a group which has been influential in instituting strong restrictions on the ownership of firearms in the state of Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stophandgunviolence.com/press-debut.asp |title=Stop Handgun Violence: Press Releases |accessdate=2008-11-07 |publisher=Stop Handgun Violence | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081121040515/http://www.stophandgunviolence.com/press-debut.asp| archivedate= 21 November 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> ==Endorsements== The AHSA endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama for President in the 2008 General Election:<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.org/taxonomy/term/54 |title=Hunters and Shooters Support Obama: He "Gets It" |accessdate=2008-11-11 |author=Ray Schoenke |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) |date=2008-04-16 }}</ref> AHSA endorsed Obama based mainly on Obama's vote for the [[Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act]].<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-16-2008/0004794250&EDATE |title=American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) Endorse Obama for President |accessdate=2008-11-11 |publisher=PRNewswire-USNewswire |date=2008-04-16 }}</ref> In 2008, the Obama campaign paid for Shoenke to travel to 40 events in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and Colorado to address pro-gun voters.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/14/AR2010121406045_5.html?sid=ST2010121406431 | work=The Washington Post | first1=Sari | last1=Horwitz | first2=James V. | last2=Grimaldi | title=NRA-led gun lobby wields powerful influence over ATF, U.S. politics | date=2010-12-15}}</ref> The AHSA endorsed the following congressional candidates: * Jim Esch [D] (Nebraska - District 2)<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1446 |title=American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Jim Esch for Congress |accessdate=2008-11-11 |date=2008-10-16 |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) }}</ref> * Eric Massa [D] (New York - District 29)<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1447 |title=American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Eric Massa for Congress |accessdate=2008-11-11 |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) |date=2008-10-21 }}</ref> * Walt Minnick [D] (Idaho - District 1)<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1446 |title=American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Walt Minnick for Congress |accessdate=2008-11-11 |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) |date=2008-10-16 }}</ref> * Harry Teague [D] (New Mexico - District 2)<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.huntersandshooters.org/node/1420 |title=American Hunters and Shooters Association Endorses Harry Teague for Congress |accessdate=2008-11-11 |publisher=American Hunters & Shooters Association (self-published) |date=2008-10-02 }}</ref> - Harry Teague's campaign declined the endorsement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nugun.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/knowing-who-not-to-vote-for-courtesy-of-the-ahsa-front-group/ |title=Knowing who & who NOT to vote for – courtesy of the AHSA front group… |publisher=N.U.G.U.N. &ndash; New User of Guns|date=November 3, 2008 |accessdate=2010-03-21}}</ref> ASHA officials testified in favor of gun control legislation, such as Washington State Bill SB-5197, which aims to restrict private transactions at gun shows and create a database of gun owners.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5197.SBR.pdf |title=Senate Bill Report of SB-5197 |accessdate=2008-11-08 |publisher=Washington State Senate Committee On Labor, Commerce, Research & Development |date=2007-02-27 |quote=This bill represents the first step to restricting private arms sales in this state. This bill stands for a registration database of Washington gun owners...If this bill became effective, private firearm transactions brokered at gun shows could not be completed until several days after the event ends. }}</ref> ASHA supported the call by the coalition of [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns]] to repeal the [[Tiahrt Amendment]], which restricts gun trace data.<ref name=MayorsTiahrt>{{cite web |title=14 Mayors from Ohio and Kentucky Join Bi-partisan Coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns |publisher=Mayors Against Illegal Guns |date=April 12, 2007 |accessdate=2010-03-20 |url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/media-center/pr003-07.shtml }}</ref> Repeal of the amendment is supported by more than 20 national and state police organizations <ref> {{cite web |url=http://protectpolice.org/what-police-say |title=What Police Say |publisher=Protectpolice.org |date=January 1, 2009 |accessdate=2010-03-20}}</ref> but opposed by the [[BATFE]] and [[Fraternal Order of Police]], on the grounds that repeal would jeopardize lives and law enforcement operations.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.fop.net/servlet/display/news_article?id=411&XSL=xsl_pages%2fpublic_news_individual.xsl |title=Letter to Appropriations Subcommittee in support of Tiahrt Amendment |accessdate=2008-11-07 |author=Chuck Canterbury, National President of the FOP |publisher=Fraternal Order of Police |date=2007-04-19 }}</ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/DOJ_Bloomberg_ltr.pdf |accessdate=2008-11-08 |title=Letter to John Feinblatt |author=[[Michael A. Battle]], Former Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys |publisher=US Department of Justice - Executive Office for the United States Attorneys |date=2007-02-06 }}</ref> ==Position in D.C. v Heller (2008)== AHSA joined in the amicus curiae brief of Maj. Gen. John D. Altenburg, Jr., et al., in the Supreme Court case of [[District of Columbia v. Heller|D.C. v Heller]], arguing that the individual right of the people to keep and bear arms enhances the collective goal of supporting national defense, and that the dichotomy between individual right argued by Heller and collective militia right argued by D.C. is false: the Second Amendment protects both.<ref>[http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publishing/preview/publiced_preview_briefs_pdfs_07_08_07_290_RespondentAmCu11GeneralsAHSA.pdf District of Columbia v. Heller amicus curiae of Maj. Gen. John D. Altenburg Jr., et al.]</ref> == Criticism from the NRA == The [[National Rifle Association]] (NRA) criticized the AHSA for its members' associations with other gun-control organizations and gun-control legislation. NRA-ILA Executive Director [[Chris W. Cox|Chris Cox]] characterized the AHSA as "the latest front group for the anti-gun movement."<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.nraila.org/Hunting/Read/HuntingArticles.aspx?ID=200 |title=Anti-Gunners Don Camo As Elections Loom |accessdate=2008-11-08 |author=Chris W. Cox |date=2006-08-14 |publisher=National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action (self-published) |quote=Seeking to pick up the baton dropped by the ham-fisted Americans for Gun Safety, the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) has arrived on the scene to become the latest front group for the anti-gun movement in America. }}</ref> In August 2005, the NRA said about the AHSA "they want to allow the [[FBI]] to keep records on law-abiding citizens who buy guns and put an end to gun shows as we know them. Not to mention the fact that they want to regulate [[.50 caliber]] rifles in the same way that [[NFA34|machine guns are regulated]]."<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.nraila.org//Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?ID=1702 |title=Sometimes the Enemy Wears Camouflage |accessdate=2008-11-08 |publisher=National Rifle Association, Institute for Legislative Action (self-published) }}</ref> == References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://web.archive.org/web/20090414151402/http://www.huntersandshooters.org/ "Wayback Machine" entry for American Hunters and Shooters Association] Internet Archive *[http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=1702 ''Sometimes the Enemy Wears Camouflage'', NRA statement on AHSA, August 14, 2005] *Chris W. Cox, [http://www.nraila.org/Issues/Articles/Read.aspx?id=200 "Anti Hunters Don Camo As Elections Loom"], NRA-ILA Executive Director, August 14, 2006 *[http://www.gunlawnews.org/asha.html "The American Hunters and Shooters Association"] Gun Law News *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TURyJiOdD8Y Introducing the American Hunters & Shooters Association], YouTube video link {{USgunorgs}} [[Category:Gun control advocacy groups in the United States]] [[Category:2005 establishments in the United States]] [[Category:Organizations established in 2005]] [[Category:Firearms-related organizations]]'