Control criminals but not firearms

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Just what is it that makes people of a liberal persuasion willing to lay down and die to protect the First Amendment of our Constitution — freedom of speech, press and assembly — but also not have a problem trampling the Second Amendment, which gives people the right to keep and bear arms?

During a goodly portion of Chris Core's radio show on WMAL (AM-630) last week, Mr. Core spent a great deal of time agonizing about the millions of Americans who own firearms. He asked callers what they thought about our "love for guns," comparing the United States with other countries who might not have the same fondness for firearms.

The citizens of other lands probably would own firearms if various government worrywarts in those countries weren't so fearful of their own people. And, please, quit reminding us Great Britain has laws that severely restrict firearms ownership; ditto for Canada and Australia. Please remember that Americans fought a bitter war to get away from the British. Why would we want to copy their way of life now when things have gone pretty well here since Great Britain lost the "Colonies."

Couldn't you just slap the people who want gun control but in the same breath say they would never want to stop hunters and target shooters from pursuing their recreational activities? What part of the Second Amendment notes that the right of target plinkers and duck hunters shall not be infringed? No, the Second Amendment addresses all law-abiding American citizens, not just hunters.

Should you run into this radio fellow, Core, ask him why he didn't do a radio show on criminal control. Control the criminals and the right to own firearms will take care of itself. For example, Northern Virginia has less crime than the "can't-own-a-gun" District, yet it doesn't restrict gun ownership.

If the Second Amendment haters are correct, shouldn't it be the other way around?

As a popular country song goes: "Let freedom ring."

Shad still in trouble — Despite earlier optimistic assessments in some states, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says American shad stocks are at an all-time low. Worse yet, the ASMFC says the shad do not appear to be recovering.

Continuing declines of shad stocks have been reported in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Georgia. In New York, the Hudson River stocks are down; so are Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River shad and South Carolina's Edisto River. Low but stable stock abundance was reported in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, parts of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's Rappahannock River. Commercial overfishing, pollution and loss of suitable habitat are the main culprits in the shad declines.

Good news comes from the Potomac River and Virginia's York River, where signs of rebounding shad numbers have been noted in recent years.

Fishing in fabled Patagonia — The National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited has invited the public to its monthly meeting Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m., when Gonzalo Cortes of Santiago presents an introduction to fly-fishing in Chile. Cortes owns a fishing lodge, gives fly-fishing tours and has written a number of fishing books.

The meeting will be held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. Information: www.ncc-tu.org or 703/591-9700.

Maryland eagle shot — The Maryland Natural Resources Police blotter recently showed that Francis Gary Long Jr., 31, of Bushwood (in St. Mary's County, Md.) pleaded guilty in Federal court for violating the Bald Eagle Protection Act.

The NRP and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service began an investigation as far back as March after a private citizen reported a bald eagle had been shot in the 22000 block of Colton Point Road in Bushwood. State and federal agents set up surveillance and learned that Long apparently shot the bald eagle along with several buzzards from the back porch of his residence. He was fined $2,500, placed on probation and had his hunting privileges revoked for one year.

Look for Gene Mueller's Outdoors column Sunday and Wednesday and his Fishing Report on Thursday, only in The Washington Times. E-mail: gmueller@washingtontimes.com.