Warning: Adult Content

[apmaurosr]

I just read a post where an outdoorsman lamented about how hunting and fishing are under attack and could disappear in NJ. I know we have all read such posts.

WARNING: The following post contains adult content. Those that are self-loathing, pessimistic, defeatist, lazy, or who expect others to carry their water should not read beyond this point.
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There are more than 600,000 anglers, hunters and trappers in NJ. That is a fact.

If 600,000 outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen continue to remain uninvolved - then we deserve the consequences of our inaction.

If the 600,000 become "involved" in changing the outdoor landscape in NJ, it will be the LARGEST single voting bloc in the state (three times larger than the NJ Education Assoc.!!!) It would become THE most powerful voting bloc in NJ, and perhaps the most influencial.

The numbers are overwhelmingly in our favor. It is a no brainer. Our pessimism is serving as cover for our inaction - said differently; WE DECIDE not to get involved.

If 600,000 oudoors people showed up at a meeting in ______ Township, things would change quickly in favor of outdoor issues in that township. In fact, if 25 outdoors people showed up things would begin to favorably change. Instead, two or three antis/enviros show up chanting their mantras and everyone thinks that THEY represent the will of the majority. The same can be said on a much larger scale in Trenton.

Antis/enviros have proven that they are willing to be INVOLVED in shaping a future that matches their vision (as misguided as their vision may be.) The majority of anglers, hunters and trappers have CHOSEN to let the antis/enviros speak on their behalf by remaining uninvolved.

Remember, we reap what we sow... or in the case of those that don't get involved - we reap what we allow others to sow for us.

So join one of the great outdoor clubs in NJ that match your interests, or attend a local meeting in your town when there is a fishing, hunting or trapping issue being discussed, or scribble you are for/against a bill and send it to your assemblyperson / senator - and be sure to vote.

That's all it takes to give voice to 600,000 of some of the best people in the state of New Jersey. Why would we ever let our silence be used by the minority to claim that they speak for us?

Ant
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[apmaurosr]

FYI, here are afew responses from another thread:

"One way to stay informed is to go to www.nj.gov , click on the tan, Legislature box on the left side of the page, scroll to the bottom of the page and signup for emails on topics you have interest.

For example, I typed in the word "fish". There are 32 bills that have the word "fish" in it. There will be a duplication of bills because there usually is a Senate version and an Assembly version. But that is okay because the email will tell you if one is moving forward or the other is still in committee."

Someone else wrote:

"Set yourself a goal:

-I will attend at least 1 governmental meeting per month that addresses my sporting concerns.
-I will write at least 1 letter to my representatives on every piece of legislation that affects my sport"

Someone said, "Involving our children in angling, hunting and trapping is critical and is a "long term" solution."

If each of the +600,000 anglers, hunters and trappers did this the polictical climate would change practically overnight - even without even knowing who we should vote for. It would force the politicians to be sensitive to ANY outdoor isssue.

Yes, for many of us "becoming involved" is new territory. We feel uncomfortable, we feel vulnerable to our lack of knowledge of how to navigate issues, we feel out of our "comfort zone." But these are only uncomfoartable feelings, and they quickly fade once we simply "get involved." Many outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen would be surprised to learn how much more outdoor knowledge they have than people at-large and those elected to office - and even more surprised to learn how quickly these people will listen to what we have to say as long as we are respectful when offering our knowledge end experience.

The best place to start is at the beginning. Take the first step and the second step comes much easier, etc.

And please visit our website. It is filled with facts, figures, articles, and various information - including bills the NJOA supports. http://www.njoutdooralliance.org


Ant<!-- / message -->