.... He mentioned that he had decided to vote for Bush. I said
something to the effect of "But, Dale, Gore is a much stronger supporter of
the environment."

Dale replied, "Yeah I like Gore better for most things, but I want to keep
my guns." That, is a grade A, classic, "one issue ... knee jerk"

Not only that, but Dale should know that the President has no power to
take away our guns. Presidents do not make laws.

I agree with George Cleveland; shooting is fun. And I enjoy taking my
Brittany out into the fields and woods in the fall and looking for
birds, even if I don't get to do any shooting. (I usually miss,
anyway.)

It seems to me the NRA leadership is constantly trying to scare us
into believing that "the government" is on the verge of confiscating
our guns, for the purpose of prodding us into us sending them our
money--which is the source of their (no doubt handsome) salaries.

Reminds me of Al Capone's way to make money: Tell businessmen "You
give me money, and I'll make sure nothing bad happens to your store."

Except for a few Senators and Congressmen from high urbanized areas,
where random shooting are a problem (which gun laws won't prevent),
our legislators know that voting for a gun-confiscation law, or even
sounding like they might vote for one, is political suicide.

Aside from that, a significant number of legislators themselves enjoy
hunting and are simpatico with others who share that pleasure, and
also want to preserve shooting sports for themselves.

We need to be less paranoid about gun ownership.

vince