Class of the highest caliber

Here’s a Facebook posting I found to alert you to an upcoming event: “The fourth annual Alaska SCTP Varsity and Grouse Ridge Rangers Gun Show and Christmas Extravaganza is Saturday and Sunday Dec. 8-9 at the Menard memorial sports facility in Wasilla. Only $5 admission/kids under 10 free; supports youth clay target programs in Mat-Su Valley! All your Christmas shopping under one roof. Come support this great youth program!”

SCTP stands for scholastic clay target program and is a national shotgun shooting program for youth. Some of our U.S. Olympic shooters, like Corey Cogdell from Palmer, started in this program. Young folks can earn college scholarships if they keep up their grades and shoot well. Take in the gun show and, if you’re interested in finding out more about the SCTP program, stop at their table and ask some questions.

I received an interesting e-mail recently that presented a novel idea, but needs some background first. In Alaska, residents who are legally qualified can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, but are required to follow all the laws governing concealed carry. Alaska also issues a concealed carry permit that can be obtained by applying, paying the required fees, passing an approximately 10-12 hour course involving a shooting proficiency test, and passing a background/fingerprint check. This permit is recognized by 35 other states, allowing concealed carry within those states’ borders and in Alaska.

As an aside, I would recommend the concealed carry course because the instruction on state law and the lawful use of deadly force is worth the price of the class alone, but I digress.

The state of Vermont has the fewest gun control laws of any state and one of the lowest crime rates in the country as well. It doesn’t require a permit to carry concealed there. One Vermont state lawmaker has proposed a different approach to regulating carrying a firearm for self defense. After researching and reading both the U.S. and Vermont’s constitutions with a strict literal view of the wording, this lawmaker is proposing the registration of those who don’t own guns and requiring them to pay a $500 fee to the state for the privilege of not owning a firearm. He feels that universal gun ownership was advocated by our founding fathers in the Constitution as an antidote to a “monopoly of force” by the government as well as criminals.

The thinking behind this idea goes something like this. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of individuals and militias to keep and bear arms. A militia, in today’s society, would encompass every adult American, regardless of gender. According to this legislator, the Second Amendment makes the point that gun ownership is a right, not a privilege, and that the amendment contains a mandate for people to exercise that right.

The state should not be charging citizens for exercising their rights under the Constitution. Should you pay a fee to criticize your government politicians or attend your preferred church service or vote? Of course not! However, the state does have the authority to charge for privileges it grants, like driving a car or hunting and fishing within its borders.

If keeping and bearing arms is a right, why should you have to pay for a permit to exercise that right? Wouldn’t it make more sense to charge a fee of those people who choose not to carry a firearm and who would then require more police protection from criminals? The fees charged would help offset this additional police protection requirement.

According to this Vermont legislator, Vermonters have a constitutional obligation to arm themselves so they are capable of responding to “any situation that may arise.” Alaska’s constitution contains wording guaranteeing the individual right to keep and bear arms, but doesn’t state, as Vermont’s constitution does, that, “the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state.” Maybe ours should.

Under the proposed bill, adults who choose not to own a firearm would be required to register a name, address, Social Security number and driver’s license number with the state. “There is a legitimate government interest in knowing who is not prepared to defend the state should they be asked to do so,” the legislator stated.

If you want to check this out further, the legislator’s name is Fred Maslack. I’m told this idea is gaining some traction in New England. If I hear any more of substance, I’ll let you know.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.