American Hunters and Shooters Association
Encyclopedia
The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), founded in 2005, was a small United States-based group, which has set itself apart from the much larger gun owner organization, the National Rifle Association
, founded in 1871, by advocating further restrictions on 2nd Amendment rights. Critics have questioned the legitimacy of the group, including whether the membership is composed of or representative of gun owners, or is merely a front organization
for misleading political endorsements.
The AHSA bills itself as a moderate, common-sense advocacy organization. It favors most restrictions on firearms, but believes that little progress will be made until gun owners are allowed to bring their common-sense perspective to the table.
In March 2008, Brady Campaign
President Paul Helmke
stated that he saw his organization's issues "as complementary to" those of the AHSA.
The National Rifle Association
(NRA) and other pro-gun organizations have criticized the AHSA for its members' associations with other gun-control organizations and gun-control legislation. NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox
has characterized the AHSA as "the latest front group for the anti-gun movement."
Despite the similarity in name, AHSA has no ties to the field marksmanship promoting organization, the Hunter's Shooting Association(HSA).
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.
In 2007, President Ray Schoenke
addressed the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
.
As of October 19, 2010 The AHSA website had been taken down.
AHSA endorsed Obama based mainly on Obama's vote for the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act.
The AHSA endorsed the following Congressional candidates:
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, founded in 1871, by advocating further restrictions on 2nd Amendment rights. Critics have questioned the legitimacy of the group, including whether the membership is composed of or representative of gun owners, or is merely a front organization
Front organization
A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy groups, or corporations...
for misleading political endorsements.
Description
The AHSA describes 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." According to information from a 2005 deposition, the group had fewer than 150 dues-paying individual members.The AHSA bills itself as a moderate, common-sense advocacy organization. It favors most restrictions on firearms, but believes that little progress will be made until gun owners are allowed to bring their common-sense perspective to the table.
In March 2008, Brady Campaign
Brady Campaign
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence are affiliated non-profit organizations in the United States. They are named after James Brady who was permanently disabled as a result of an assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
President Paul Helmke
Paul Helmke
Walter Paul Helmke, Jr. is an American politician, and the former president of the Washington, DC-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He held this position from July 2006 to July 10, 2011...
stated that he saw his organization's issues "as complementary to" those of the AHSA.
The National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
(NRA) and other pro-gun organizations have criticized the AHSA for its members' associations with other gun-control organizations and gun-control legislation. NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox
Chris W. Cox
Chris W. Cox has been the chief lobbyist for the United States National Rifle Association since being appointed in 2002. He serves as the executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, more commonly known as the NRA-ILA....
has characterized the AHSA as "the latest front group for the anti-gun movement."
Despite the similarity in name, AHSA has 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.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.
In 2007, President Ray Schoenke
Ray Schoenke
Raymond Frederick Schoenke is a gun owner, hunter, conservationist, and former American football player in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
addressed the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
.
As of October 19, 2010 The AHSA website had been taken down.
Stated goals
The AHSA web site indicates four general programs:- "Protecting our sporting heritage"
- "Hunting and fishing conservation"
- "Gun safety"
- "Law enforcement training, outreach and development"
Current leadership
The leaders of the AHSA are:- Ray SchoenkeRay SchoenkeRaymond Frederick Schoenke is a gun owner, hunter, conservationist, and former American football player in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins...
, Founding President. A former football player for the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, Schoenke ran for Governor of MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1998 as a Democrat. He is a millionaire and has contributed to numerous Democratic politicians and causes. Schoenke has donated to Handgun Control, Inc., which actively lobbies to ban some types of firearms, and he was on the Maryland Governor's Commission on Gun Violence in 1996. - 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 Crime Gun Solutions. Crime Gun Solutions has worked for the Brady Center, providing data analysis supportive of the Federal Assault Weapons Act, and has provided ballistics evidence and analysis in lawsuits against firearm dealers. He was a signer on a letter submitted to Congress opposing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms ActProtection of Lawful Commerce in Arms ActThe Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act was passed by the U.S. Senate on July 29, 2005, by a vote of 65-31. On October 20, 2005, it was passed by the House of Representatives 283 in favor and 144 opposed. It was signed into law on October 26, 2005, by President George W...
- Jody Powell, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board
- A. Austin Dorr, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board
Endorsement of political candidates
The AHSA endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama for President in the 2008 General Election:AHSA endorsed Obama based mainly on Obama's vote for the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act.
The AHSA endorsed the following Congressional candidates:
- Jim Esch [D] (Nebraska - District 2)
- Eric Massa [D] (New York - District 29)
- Walt Minnick [D] (Idaho - District 1)
- Harry Teague [D] (New Mexico - District 2) - Harry Teague's campaign declined the endorsement.
Controversy
- In August 2005, the gun-rights group, the National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle AssociationThe National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, 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 machine guns are regulated."
- ASHA officials have 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.
- ASHA supports the call by the coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts full access of cities and law enforcement to gun trace data. Repeal of the amendment is supported by more than 20 national and state police organizations but opposed by the BATFE and Fraternal Order of PoliceFraternal Order of PoliceThe Fraternal Order of Police is an organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It claims a membership of over 325,000 members organized in 2100 local chapters , organized into local lodges, state lodges, and the national Grand Lodge...
, on the grounds that repeal would jeopardize lives and law enforcement operations.
- Two of the AHSA endorsed candidates for Congress have received low ratings by the NRA. With Massa receiving a "C" and Minnick a "D+". Only one AHSA endorsed candidate, Teague, has received an "A" rating from the NRA. However, this was an "AQ" rating which means it is based solely on the NRA questionnaire. The grade disparity between the organizations is large enough to be called into question.
- The AHSA claims to be a non-partisan organization. However, to date the AHSA has only endorsed Democratic candidates.
Gun control activities of AHSA leadership
- Bob RickerBob RickerBob Ricker resigned January 6, 2009, as a member of the board of directors and Executive Director of the American Hunters and Shooters Association.- Early career :...
, former Executive Director of the AHSA, was a former NRA employee who began supporting some groups advocating restrictions on the ownership and use of firearms and has testified as an expert witness against the firearms industry in multiple court cases. - John E. Rosenthal, a founding member of AHSA who left in 2007, 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.
- Schoenke has donated over $10,000 to the Brady CampaignBrady CampaignThe Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence are affiliated non-profit organizations in the United States. They are named after James Brady who was permanently disabled as a result of an assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
, a national organization which advocates strong restrictions on the ownership of firearms.
External links
- AHSA Official website
- Sometimes the Enemy Wears Camouflage, NRA statement on AHSA, August 14, 2005
- Chris W. Cox, "Anti Hunters Don Camo As Elections Loom", NRA-ILA Executive Director, August 14, 2006
- "The American Hunters and Shooters Association" Gun Law News