One issue happening, probably below the radar for most gun blogs, is the controversy going on right now in Pennsylvania over crossbow hunting. Many bow hunters are angry at NRA for their support of crossbow hunting in Pennsylvania, which was recently approved by the Game Commission over the objections of United Bow Hunters of Pennsylvania.
I question whether this was an issue NRA should have been involved in, but I think more from a “is it worth the trouble” perspective, rather than because I agree with the bow hunters.  Hunting is in decline. By many measures, this decline is serious, and is only going to get worse as more hunters die off, or get too old to go afield. Opportunities for hunting are dwindling. Anything that opens up more opportunities to get more people into the sport is ultimately beneficial to both the hunting and shooting communities.
The Humane Society of the United States will relentlessly dog hunters until they ban hunting in this country, one species at a time. They’ve already had success ending dove hunting in Michigan, and we all know about the bear hunts in New Jersey. They were also instrumental in the California lead ammunition ban, and are supporting a nationwide ban on lead ammunition. These people are good at what they do, and they are organized and well funded. In a lot of ways, they make the Brady Campaign look like pikers in comparison.
If hunters want to commit slow motion political suicide by supporting policies that restrict access to their sport, and ultimately reduce their numbers, and their political power right along with it, I’m not sure NRA really ought to stop them. Perhaps it’s not worth the grief. But both hunters and shooters will suffer if hunting disappears in North America. Hunters should get behind anything that expands opportunties for hunting. Bow hunters are being dangerously short sighted on the crossbow issue.
