04-30-2012, 03:35 PM
Still on the fence about this one. I don't think taxation is any way of solving an issue, but I am concerned with the amount of concentrated lead that has been redistributed into our dwindling ecosystems. I know that making the change to copper bullets would at least double the cost of shooting and would be detrimental to the sport we love, but to what expense are we willing to subject our habitat for the sake of a cheaper afternoon shooting? I don't think that shooting ranges should be considered for this, though some study should be put into the watershed around these areas and see where the rain is taking the lead from the soil.
My main concern is whether or not it is harmful to shoot freely in forest land, distributing pounds of lead into the topsoil. My Dad always talks about how lead was everywhere when he was a kid and how he survived, but the truth is that lead is a proven neurotoxin, and its widespread use led to millions of cases developmental disorders. Maybe it isn't an issue yet, but these deposits only build up over time. The problem is what do we do if this stuff starts leaching into our drinking water? Or into the plants that feed the wildlife? This would especially effect those of you on well systems. The world seems like a big place and it might seem preposterous that just shooting could cause any damage, but multiply your actions by the millions of others out there doing the same thing and expand that over the history of outdoor shooting in our country and the results add up fast.
As a shooter I would hate to see a any more limitations put on our sport, but intuition leads me to be cautious about this issue. I think it is far too easy to be defensive of our pass-time and second amendment rights and ignore the implications trying to be brought to our attention by the other side. I don't know much about the Center for Biological Diversity, but I have seen pro-shooting groups (ahem NRA...) make us look ignorant by jumping to the defense without showing the slightest bit of introspective. Maybe the "anti-gunners" would be less opposed to our life style if we became more well known for our concern for the environment rather than shootin' and killin'. Just sayin.
I know this is a controversial perspective, so take it with a grain of salt. Thought it would be interesting to see how you all felt about this.
My main concern is whether or not it is harmful to shoot freely in forest land, distributing pounds of lead into the topsoil. My Dad always talks about how lead was everywhere when he was a kid and how he survived, but the truth is that lead is a proven neurotoxin, and its widespread use led to millions of cases developmental disorders. Maybe it isn't an issue yet, but these deposits only build up over time. The problem is what do we do if this stuff starts leaching into our drinking water? Or into the plants that feed the wildlife? This would especially effect those of you on well systems. The world seems like a big place and it might seem preposterous that just shooting could cause any damage, but multiply your actions by the millions of others out there doing the same thing and expand that over the history of outdoor shooting in our country and the results add up fast.
As a shooter I would hate to see a any more limitations put on our sport, but intuition leads me to be cautious about this issue. I think it is far too easy to be defensive of our pass-time and second amendment rights and ignore the implications trying to be brought to our attention by the other side. I don't know much about the Center for Biological Diversity, but I have seen pro-shooting groups (ahem NRA...) make us look ignorant by jumping to the defense without showing the slightest bit of introspective. Maybe the "anti-gunners" would be less opposed to our life style if we became more well known for our concern for the environment rather than shootin' and killin'. Just sayin.
I know this is a controversial perspective, so take it with a grain of salt. Thought it would be interesting to see how you all felt about this.