Obama’s Campaign for Change Launches Sportsmen for Obama
Sportsmen Announce Support for Obama’s Candidacy
Hibbing, MN – As we begin the fall hunting season, Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change announced the formation of Sportsmen for Obama, a group dedicated to highlighting and increasing Senator Obama’s support among Minnesota sportsmen. At events in Duluth and Hibbing, local sportsmen pointed to Senator Obama’s deep belief in the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms and his plans TO expand and protect the great traditions of hunting, fishing and outdoor sports.
“Barack Obama recognizes the great legacy of Minnesota’s hunters and fishermen, and the importance of the outdoor traditions of Minnesota,” state Senator Tom Saxhaug said. “Senator Obama believes firmly in individuals’ second amendment right to bear arms and will protect Americans’ gun rights as president. John McCain has consistently opposed policies, like the Farm Bill, that would protect habitat and improve access to private lands for hunting and fishing for Minnesota sportsmen. Barack Obama supports incentives for conservation and will further enhance programs that encourage participation and create new access for hunting and fishing. We will not let John McCain continue to try to drive a wedge between voters by distorting Senator Obama’s strong record on gun rights and issues of great importance to sportsmen.
“Sportsmen, like most voters, believe that the struggling economy is the most important issue our next president will face. John McCain is totally out of touch with working Minnesotans and still even yesterday stubbornly insisted that the fundamentals of our economy are strong. Minnesota families are struggling to make it paycheck-to-paycheck and are tired of a president who doesn’t get it, a president who refuses to recognize and admit the obvious. We need a president who will stand up for our second amendment rights and fight for middle class families. That man is Barack Obama.”
More details on Barack Obama’s plan to make sportsmen and their priorities a centerpiece of his agenda:
- Protect Gun Rights: Millions of hunters and shooters own and use guns each year. Barack Obama believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns.
- Create New Access for Hunting and Angling: As more and more private lands are subdivided or placed off limits, sportsmen are losing access to places to hunt and fish. Obama will ensure funding to purchase land and easements to guarantee access. Obama will provide incentives to farmers and ranchers who voluntarily open their land to hunting and fishing.
- Restore Degraded Areas to Improve Hunting and Angling Opportunities: Obama will provide the resources to restore degraded lands and waters, enhancing places to hunt and fish. He supports the National Fish Habitat Initiative and cleaning up abandoned mines that pollute streams.
- Promote Responsible Energy Development on Public Lands: Since 1999, drilling on public lands in the Rocky Mountain West has increased by 260%. This drilling rush has profound consequences for fish, wildlife, and water resources. Obama will implement an energy policy that protects the most important fish and wildlife habitat, wildlife corridors, and other areas while ensuring responsible energy development on our public lands.
- Restore Resiliency to Fish and Wildlife Habitats in Response to Climate Change: Climate change will increase drought, wild fires, and flooding across the country. Obama will work with Congress to provide new funding to state and federal land and wildlife managers through climate change legislation to restore habitat, create wildlife migration corridors, and assist fish and wildlife to adapt to effects of a warming climate.
- Protect Wetlands, which are Critical to Waterfowl and other Wildlife: Every year we lose 80,000 acres of wetlands that are important to waterfowl and wildlife. Obama will ensure that wetlands receive the protection they deserve and will provide a bright future for waterfowl.
- Provide Incentives to Conserve Private Lands: Obama will ensure that Farm Bill conservation programs are managed to provide maximum benefit to fish and wildlife. Obama will also extend federal tax incentives for landowners that place conservation easements on their land to conserve open space and protect water quality.
- Protect Backcountry Hunting and Fishing: Keeping backcountry areas on our National Forests intact benefits fish, wildlife, and water resources, and hunting and angling. Obama will protect roadless areas on forest service lands. Obama believes that these lands provide some of the best fish and wildlife habitat, and hunting and angling opportunity in the country. Obama will work with stakeholders to conserve our nation’s public lands.
- Address the Decline in the Number of Hunters and Anglers: Obama understands that we need new generations of sportsmen to maintain hunting and fishing traditions, conduct important conservation projects and support our states’ fish and wildlife programs. Obama will enhance programs to encourage youth to participate in outdoor activities and learn hunting, fishing, and conservation skills.
