Lead shot

     “Eat lead.”  That was an old line from long ago cowboy movies, usually snarled by the bad guys just before the gun play started.

     Unfortunately eating lead has become a hazard to wildlife and occasionally to humans because of the ammo used in hunting.  If you shoot a duck with lead shot and the duck is not recovered, chances are a scavenger will find the duck and eat it.  The higher up you go in the food chain, the more lead is accumulated and the more harm to wildlife.  Environmentalists who hunt are aware of the problem and use copper shot.  

     In some areas lead shot has been banned.  It has not been allowed in southern California for years because of danger it posed to the condor, a large endangered carrion eating bird.  Why hasn’t it been banned everywhere?

     Because the National Rifle Association regards any attempt to ban lead ammo as some sort of government conspiracy against the 2nd Amendment.  The NRA is a large organization which needs to keep its treasury full so it can buy elections and threaten members of congress and state legislators.  A simple and easy policy that would benefit the environment is used to scare members as a way to keep donations flowing.

     It is important to hunters to recognize that the NRA is not interested in hunting.  It is really not interested in anything except power. So join your local sportsmen’s association.  Keep your membership in your local Rod and Gun club.  And tell the NRA that it can put its next “oh oh, they plan to seize our guns” fundraising letter where the sun don’t shine.