National politics and Alaska interests

The federal government has recently mounted major attacks on our Alaskan way of life and our rights as American citizens. First, there are massive numbers of non-US citizens either enroute to or already at our US southern borders; second, according to our Commissioner of Fish and Game, Doug Vincent-Lang, the National Park Service is attempting to dictate who may hunt on National Parks lands, where they may hunt, and what methods and means they can use on their hunts; and, finally, President Biden’s Executive Order mandating universal gun registration.

On the first point, a report in Must Read Alaska states that several Texas counties have issued disaster declarations as the public health Title 42 legislation was expiring. Quoting, “The declarations were made as large groups of people, 15,000 Venezuelans and 15,000 Haitians, arrived in the Rio Grande Valley seeking entry to the U.S. An additional 23,000 are reportedly en route to Del Rio.”

Continuing, “’A surge in migrant crossings is a significant public safety and security concern,’” he (Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez) said, “’including but not limited to the risk of injury or loss of life and property.’”

If this entry of undocumented immigrants is allowed to happen, and it probably will under our left-wing-controlled federal government, many of these illegals, several of whom are criminals, will find their way to Alaska. We already know the impact of having illegal alien criminals roaming loose in our society.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Commissioner, Doug Vincent-Lang, wrote an opinion piece which also appeared in Must Read Alaska. Again, quoting from the article, “The National Park Service is once again dividing Alaska by unjustifiably undermining the state’s sustainable management of Alaska’s wildlife. In the latest attack, the National Park Service has proposed rulemaking that prohibits traditional methods and means of hunting throughout national preserves in Alaska.”

“The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act passed by Congress in 1980 is the single largest expansion of protected lands in U.S. history. Nearly 40% of Alaska was set aside for conservation and preservation purposes. During the drafting of ANILCA, many Alaskans attended congressional hearings throughout Alaska as well as traveled to Washington D.C. to voice their concerns for how important it was to have continued access to resources on what would be new conservation system unit lands.”

“Based on this testimony, Congress included clear provisions protecting Alaskans’ traditional way of life and our ability to use the newly set aside federal public lands, and the resources on those lands, for our cultural, social, and economic needs. ANILCA’s provisions are clear. They allow Alaskans to continue to access and hunt on the federal preserve lands Congress created in Alaska. Congress specifically designed ANILCA to allow all Alaskans to access our fish and game resources and for the State to manage these resources and the methods and means of hunting.”

Continuing, “Despite this, the National Park Service has repeatedly tried to reinterpret this agreement and law and restrict Alaskans’ access to cherished State resources. By taking away our opportunities to hunt and be out on our lands, the National Park Service erodes the terms of our agreement memorialized in ANILCA to ensure this balance. Fish and wildlife are primary food sources for Alaskans and are vital to cultural and traditional heritage.”

“In its current rule making, the National Park Service is trying to rewrite ANILCA and dictate not only where, but also how, Alaskans can hunt on park service lands. When the National Park Service replaces state general hunting regulations with federal regulations, they limit participation.”

“We, as Alaskans, should be in control of Alaska’s resources, not federal agencies in Washington D.C. who are more interested in forwarding preservation agendas than honoring the rights of Alaskans.”

And finally, President Biden has issued an Executive Order entailing the following: first, banning ALL private sales or “transfers” of firearms. Simply passing down that old hunting rifle to your kids or lending a handgun to a friend without a background check could bring a felony charge and jail time. Second, releasing private FFL records to the public. Releasing private firearm records from ATF “inspections” of federal firearm licensees to policymakers and the public would allow for the targeting of individual gun owners by the anti-gun Left. ATF agents have already been caught red-handed taking cell phone pictures of 4473s during an FFL inspection.

And finally, instructing Congress to pass universal gun registration. While the Executive Order is dangerous by itself, House Republican RINO Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), to appease the gun grabbers, has sponsored H.R. 715 (Universal Gun Registration).