Don't feel so bad Dick...

Man's elbow, mistaken for squirrel, shot

Anyway... For all of those pundits saying Cheney is damaged goods for his little accident; And for all of you saying that he was wrong not to go immediately to the press, get real. Seriously. People who think this is some calamity that this is cause to change the course of the American gun ownership, are the same people who were anti gun and anti Cheney (although now days who really thinks Dick is a swell guy?)before hand.

In all seriousness, although many people perceive "the right" to be on the upswing, and the NRA to be at the height of its power etc., etc., trends point that ultimately we are on a path to becoming a Country that will regulate gun ownership more like Britain. Guns won't exist outside sports clubs, and the government will keep tabs on and tax everyone who has one.

Before you poo poo me and say I don't know what I'm talking about.. and point out the republican congress and such, let me outline where I'm coming from.

Here are a few articles with statistics regarding the decline in hunters.

Make hunting and fishing cheap and easy

The Decline in Hunting

Rural tradition of hunting shows signs of decline

Hunting on the Decline in Florida and Nationwide

Please make note that the first two are from the perspective of hunters, then there is the unbiased CSM article, and lastly, the leftist Animal rights article.

Next to point out is the consumption of public land available to hunt on. In Maine out of staters who don't want people on their land, or in some cases are opposed to hunting, are gobbling up land at an alarming rate. Now while this trend is likely more severe in Maine than in the Midwest or Rockies, it is likely to repeat itself elsewhere once the land has all been purchased. A lot of this land is being sold inexpensively by locals who have lost their source of income in a changing economy. In addition some of it has been land released by paper companies. The movement to save the "North Maine Woods" which arguably encourages development rather than discouraging it, also has contributed to the lack of available land for hunting. Ultimately this movement's affect depends on who has the upperhand on the "saving". If sportsmen alliances ultimately are involved, as they are in some cases, than perhaps the traditional land use can be preserved. If certain leftist causes and movements to establish a National park take hold, than it could accelerate the demise of the traditional American Hunting/Fishing traditions.

This article does a fine job explaining in brief some of the issues:

New U.S. Park? Maine Bid Draws High-Profile Debate

Lastly, the new republican party is liberal (in regards to spending---it is split on other issues giving the edge to the left) This is something tough for the average New England liberal to grasp because many are so fundamentalist, yes you read correctly, fundamentalist, that they believe all conservatives and republicans are nothing short of evil scourge. Since they are incapable of rationalizing and compromising, (unless someone like Bill Clinton suddenly says its a good idea) they assume the opposition thinks in the same manner. Each younger generation is getting more liberal. They are also more sedentary. The education system is liberal, as are the values taught to kids in school.

All this on top of the fact that the Republican party, corrupt with power, is on the verge of a collapse, contributes to an acceleration back towards the left. Really the speed of the destruction of the second amendment depends how badly this administration crashes and burns, and who the next republican nominee will be. But if not in ten years, definitely in twenty, our gun legislation will look a lot more like that of the UK than what we currently know. The NRA can't keep growing in strength if there are fewer members to fund it.

I kind of like to believe that we should be a bit "Libertarian" and give people the benefit of making their own decisions. Personally I support the second amendment, but I think it is on its way out.