in our sights: the national monument review

There may be no more polarizing debate within the outdoor industry than that surrounding national monuments. This discussion has taken on a national flavor, as President Trump recently asked for a review of 21 designated national monuments. Today we dig into why stakeholders either enthusiastically support or defend the review, as well as the designation of monuments themselves.

First off: what is a national monument? Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, a president can make any federally owned land a protected area to be managed by an agency like National Park Service or the United States Forest Service by designating it a “national monument.” Note that this is not the same as a national park. While presidents are able to designate national monuments, only congress can create national parks.

In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt used this act to establish the Grand Canyon as a national monument. The act was used as recently as December 2016 by President Obama to designate almost 1.4 million acres in Utah as a national monument called Big Ears.

Many see President Trump’s request to review 21 existing national monuments as a reaction to President Obama’s late-term designation of Big Ears, which was controversial at the time. But what the review could mean for the monuments’ future is unclear. Past attorneys general have stated that while presidents are able to designate national monuments, they do not have the legal authority to abolish them. In any event, below are some stakeholders’ motivation for speaking out.

• National monument proponents think that their designation is important for conservation and protection, and could also drive eco-tourism dollars to their states
  • Conservation includes not just wildlife, but also cultural conservation; in the case of Big Ears, the designated land contains archeological and tribal sites of historic significance
• National monument opponents think that the federal government is exercising overreaching power at the detriment of local communities, particularly in poor, rural areas
  • They argue that federal land should be turned over to the states or sold off for commercial development
  • Conservation organizations like the Wild Sheep Foundation also argue that designation limits land access, inhibiting scientific research, wildlife management, and outdoor recreation

What’s clear is that this issue has huge consequences at the local level. After Utah politicians voiced support for the Trump review and advocated for the abolishment of Big Ears, the Outdoor Industry Association pulled its semi-annual conference from Salt Lake City, costing Utah an estimated $45 million. So, no matter where you stand on this issue, it’s important to be informed as there could be real impacts to your local community.

Happy learning!
Emily

saint hugh shoots & cooks: bacon-wrapped pheasant

Last Saturday I took part in a fun annual tradition of the Pass Christian Yacht Club: the post-carnival pheasant shoot.

Held at the scenic Taylor Creek Shooting Preserve in Theodore, AL, it was a classic continental shoot, with twenty stalls wrapped around a tower near a picturesque pond. Retrieving dogs were spaced roughly every other stand (lots of dogs!), and neither they nor their guides could have been more attentive. A red beans and rice lunch followed, and by the time we had finished eating, a 150+ birds had already been cleaned and bagged. The efficiently organized day definitely served as a relaxing chaser to the prior week’s Mardi Gras frenzy. I look forward to it becoming one of my own annual traditions.

I took home a few pheasants and made use of the recipe below, but shooters also had the option of donating their game to the Pass Christian Yacht Club for a wild game-theme dinner there this Saturday night. And, fun fact: theirs is the oldest yacht club in the county.

Ingredients
4 pheasants
3 tablespoons of butter
Salt and pepper to taste
2 lemons, halved
1 tablespoon of rosemary
1 apple, sliced
1 teaspoon of cloves
8 slices of bacon

2 boxes of shells fit in the deep pockets of our Shooter's Vest. 

The finished product!

Directions
Rub the birds with salt and pepper to taste, then brown in two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet.
Remove browned birds.
Squeeze the quartered lemons inside the pheasants, then coat with rosemary.
Place squeezed lemons inside the birds.
Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet, stir in cloves, and brown the apple slices.
Remove browned apples from the skillet, and stuff as many apple slices as you can inside the birds.
Wrap each bird in two slices of bacon. Fasten with a toothpick if necessary.
Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes.

Happy cooking!
Emily

in our sights: the sandy hook repeal

Over the past week, you’ve probably heard a lot about the so-called “Sandy Hook” rule. That’s because on Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed into law its repeal. So, we took an unbiased look at what that means for Americans.

Implemented by the Obama administration after the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the rule required the Social Security Administration to report the names of people receiving disability benefits for mental health conditions to the FBI. The FBI maintains a database used during background checks to determine eligibility to purchase a firearm. The Sandy Hook rule was expected to add about 75,000 names to that database.

Opponents of the rule, which included both the ACLU and the NRA, claimed that it stripped Americans of their Second Amendment rights without allowing them due process. They also argued that the criteria for determining mental disability within the rule were too vague to be effective, and that it reinforced the stereotype that people with mental disabilities are violent.

Proponents of the rule contended that it was a common-sense measure necessary to keep citizens safe: "If you can't manage your own financial affairs, how can we expect that you're going to be a responsible steward of a dangerous, lethal firearm?" - Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut).

Last month the Senate used the Congressional Review Act (a law that provides Congress at 6-month window to reevaluate actions taken by an outgoing presidential administration) to strike down the rule in a 57 to 43 to vote. President Trump’s Tuesday signing affirmed that repeal.

It’s worth noting that despite the repeal, certain classes of citizens are still banned from legally owning a firearm.  The Gun Control Act of 1968 revokes the Second Amendment rights of the following:

• Fugitives from justice,
• Illegal aliens,
• Unlawful users of certain drugs,
• Those committed to a mental institution,
• Those convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year (covers most felonies), and
• Those convicted of domestic violence crimes.

Happy learning!
Emily

in our sights: hunt with heart

While attending last month’s Houston Safari Club Convention, we had the pleasure of meeting Chance Sanford of Texas non-profit, Hunt with Heart. We were so impressed with this group’s mission that we donated a jacket to a longtime female member, Taylor Dyson, and wanted to share Hunt with Heart’s work with you.

Hunt with Heart empowers kids suffering from congenital heart issues by giving them life experiences which, were it not for their conditions, they would have had playing team sports. Hunt with Heart uses hunting and fishing to teach camaraderie, problem-solving, perseverance, and success.

Participants learn the basics during a weekend-long camp at central Texas’s Beaver Creek Ranch. Afterwards, they participate in fishing expeditions, dove and big game hunts, and sporting clay shoots throughout the year. Hunt with Heart currently serves 49 members, who have a median age of 14. Unlike some wish-based organizations, becoming involved with Hunt with Heart is not a one-time event; the organization becomes a meaningful part of each participant’s medical journey.  

Hunt with Heart has also provided a supportive community for the families of its members, particularly during the lengthy and arduous treatment periods typical of congenital heart disorders. When extended hospital stays are required, Hunt with Heart steps in to help with lodging and parking costs. It has also subsidized the funerals of departed members.

You can get involved with this great group by hosting or sponsoring a hunting or fishing expedition. Financial contributions are also always welcome. More info here.

Happy hunting!
Emily