Talk:American Hunters and Shooters Association/lead

The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), founded in 2006, is a United States based group related to the issues of gun ownership and gun control. The purpose of the organization is controversial in that while it claims to promote safe and responsible gun ownership, other organizations criticize it as a front group for the anti-gun movement.

Purpose
The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) was formally founded in 2006, and has claimed no more than 150 dues paying individual members. The organization describes itself as "... a national grassroots organization committed to safe and responsible gun ownership" and "... a mainstream group of hunters who are looking to belong to a gun owners association that doesn't have a radical agenda." However, other organizations have been critical of AHSA, characterizing it as "the latest front group for the anti-gun movement."

AHSA bills itself as a more moderate, common-sense advocacy organization, founded to more effectively promote the gun-control efforts of the Brady Campaign. The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other pro-gun organizations have criticized the AHSA for it members' associations with other gun-control organizations and gun-control legislation.

Despite the similarity in name, AHSA has no ties to the field marksmanship promoting organization, the Hunter's Shooting Association(HSA).

The AHSA seems to offer NO contact information—no phone, address, email or other way to communicate—EXCEPT for forms to donate money or become a member. Odd? Any moneys sent to them would appear to fall into a non tax deductible void with which communication is not possible. Attempts to request refunds when subsequent information suggest a scam are futile. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.67.179.253 (talk) 18:26, 19 December 2008 (UTC)

History
In June 2006, Executive Director Bob Ricker formally introduced AHSA at a press conference at the annual conference of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Mr. Ricker proclaimed at this conference that the NRA and other 2nd Amendment rights organizations did not address the specific concerns of hunters - protecting hunting lands and wildlife habitats - which led to the creation of AHSA. In 2007, President Ray Schoenke addressed the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.