Drizzt
April 21, 2003, 04:44 PM
Chicago Tribune
April 19, 2003 Saturday, CHICAGO FINAL EDITION
SECTION: Sports; Pg. 2; ZONE: C; On the outdoors.
LENGTH: 807 words
HEADLINE: Hunters need not worry--yet
BYLINE: Lew Freedman.
BODY:
It is a common belief that the average citizen is never safe as long as the legislature is in session, so it is best to be vigilant when bills surface that make you nervous.
For outdoorsmen this spring, that is particularly true of measures involving guns and budgets; their guns and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' budget.
Maybe he is wrong to be acting more soothing than Mr. Rogers, but Joel Brunsvold, the new director of IDNR, is sending out the same message to outdoorsmen bothered by either topic: chill. In a recent conversation he used the word "relax" twice.
It is an approach in contrast to hysterical petition drafters, e-mail writers and stake-out-the-extremes true-believers espousing causes. Given the timing of his being the new man on the job, however, (freshly confirmed April 10), and the significance of the issues, Brunsvold's credibility with outdoorsmen is being tested.
The buzz has been louder and more venomous in Springfield than if West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes were circling the capitol in formation. More paranoid too. Outdoorsmen are running around like so many Paul Reveres announcing, "The Democrats are coming! The Democrats are coming!" They have more faith in White Sox security than in new Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Yes, outdoorsmen should be concerned when a bill passes out of committee that many say would take away the right to own most shotguns used for deer and waterfowl hunting. But Brunsvold said he has assurances from the governor that this is not going to happen.
Yes, outdoorsmen should be concerned if they believe the state's huge deficit is going to require raising fishing and hunting license fees and the cost of a firearm owner identification (FOID) card. But Brunsvold said he has assurances from Blagojevich that this won't happen either.
It is hard to believe a majority of the state legislature will approve a measure that would undermine hunting, if only because of the dollars and cents. A 2001 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey--the most recent available--indicates hunting in Illinois is a $450 million business.
In a time of fiscal austerity (or plenty, for that matter), how crazy would it be for the state government to gut a thriving industry upon which so many people depend for livelihoods, never mind passionately participate in as sport?
The gun furor basically revolves around Senate Bill 1195, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Antonio Munoz. It would ban shotguns with a bore of .50 caliber or more, the net result, according to numerous interpretations, being to outlaw a variety of shotguns, and even muzzleloaders. Many hyperopponents label it a "Daley gun grab," placing blame for the origins of the matter on Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley because of his interest in gun control.
Brunsvold, who spent the last 20 years in the legislature and serves at the pleasure of the governor, said neither the executive branch nor the legislature has the will or desire to take guns away from hunters or shooters of sporting clays.
"That's not what the governor wants to do," Brunsvold said. "The general assembly has not and will not support that. You can introduce anything you want. It's floating around. I'm not worried about it. I don't think the House or the Senate will do that."
A co-founder and former leader of the Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Brunsvold is presumably tight with many legislators whose sympathies lie with hunters and he said they are playing a role in quelling the bill.
Brunsvold is receiving plenty of calls from hunters, although he said they would be better served by contacting their legislators. Indeed, the most effective way to combat individual legislators' crusades is to enlist opposition legislators' aid. Personal lobbying, rather than public howling, probably is the best method to get the message across.
These days Brunsvold spends much of his time haggling over how to adapt to $31.7 million in proposed IDNR general revenue cuts for fiscal year 2004. With a staffing level down 126 from 2003, the department's immediate struggles will be to field sufficient conservation police officers and have enough staffers to keep 300 parks open and operating, he said.
Brunsvold said 11 conservation officers will be hired soon and a new class will be offered in the fall. Plus 150 minimum-wage park workers may be added for the summer.
As for outdoorsmen being worked up over potential increased fees for fishing and hunting licenses or FOID cards, forget it, he said.
"They need to relax a little bit," Brunsvold said.
Of course, no one really can relax while the legislature meets. The closing days of a session are always dangerous, when back-room deals are cut, when promises are broken. That is also when whatever clout Brunsvold wields will be needed to protect outdoorsmen's interests.
April 19, 2003 Saturday, CHICAGO FINAL EDITION
SECTION: Sports; Pg. 2; ZONE: C; On the outdoors.
LENGTH: 807 words
HEADLINE: Hunters need not worry--yet
BYLINE: Lew Freedman.
BODY:
It is a common belief that the average citizen is never safe as long as the legislature is in session, so it is best to be vigilant when bills surface that make you nervous.
For outdoorsmen this spring, that is particularly true of measures involving guns and budgets; their guns and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' budget.
Maybe he is wrong to be acting more soothing than Mr. Rogers, but Joel Brunsvold, the new director of IDNR, is sending out the same message to outdoorsmen bothered by either topic: chill. In a recent conversation he used the word "relax" twice.
It is an approach in contrast to hysterical petition drafters, e-mail writers and stake-out-the-extremes true-believers espousing causes. Given the timing of his being the new man on the job, however, (freshly confirmed April 10), and the significance of the issues, Brunsvold's credibility with outdoorsmen is being tested.
The buzz has been louder and more venomous in Springfield than if West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes were circling the capitol in formation. More paranoid too. Outdoorsmen are running around like so many Paul Reveres announcing, "The Democrats are coming! The Democrats are coming!" They have more faith in White Sox security than in new Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Yes, outdoorsmen should be concerned when a bill passes out of committee that many say would take away the right to own most shotguns used for deer and waterfowl hunting. But Brunsvold said he has assurances from the governor that this is not going to happen.
Yes, outdoorsmen should be concerned if they believe the state's huge deficit is going to require raising fishing and hunting license fees and the cost of a firearm owner identification (FOID) card. But Brunsvold said he has assurances from Blagojevich that this won't happen either.
It is hard to believe a majority of the state legislature will approve a measure that would undermine hunting, if only because of the dollars and cents. A 2001 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey--the most recent available--indicates hunting in Illinois is a $450 million business.
In a time of fiscal austerity (or plenty, for that matter), how crazy would it be for the state government to gut a thriving industry upon which so many people depend for livelihoods, never mind passionately participate in as sport?
The gun furor basically revolves around Senate Bill 1195, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Antonio Munoz. It would ban shotguns with a bore of .50 caliber or more, the net result, according to numerous interpretations, being to outlaw a variety of shotguns, and even muzzleloaders. Many hyperopponents label it a "Daley gun grab," placing blame for the origins of the matter on Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley because of his interest in gun control.
Brunsvold, who spent the last 20 years in the legislature and serves at the pleasure of the governor, said neither the executive branch nor the legislature has the will or desire to take guns away from hunters or shooters of sporting clays.
"That's not what the governor wants to do," Brunsvold said. "The general assembly has not and will not support that. You can introduce anything you want. It's floating around. I'm not worried about it. I don't think the House or the Senate will do that."
A co-founder and former leader of the Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Brunsvold is presumably tight with many legislators whose sympathies lie with hunters and he said they are playing a role in quelling the bill.
Brunsvold is receiving plenty of calls from hunters, although he said they would be better served by contacting their legislators. Indeed, the most effective way to combat individual legislators' crusades is to enlist opposition legislators' aid. Personal lobbying, rather than public howling, probably is the best method to get the message across.
These days Brunsvold spends much of his time haggling over how to adapt to $31.7 million in proposed IDNR general revenue cuts for fiscal year 2004. With a staffing level down 126 from 2003, the department's immediate struggles will be to field sufficient conservation police officers and have enough staffers to keep 300 parks open and operating, he said.
Brunsvold said 11 conservation officers will be hired soon and a new class will be offered in the fall. Plus 150 minimum-wage park workers may be added for the summer.
As for outdoorsmen being worked up over potential increased fees for fishing and hunting licenses or FOID cards, forget it, he said.
"They need to relax a little bit," Brunsvold said.
Of course, no one really can relax while the legislature meets. The closing days of a session are always dangerous, when back-room deals are cut, when promises are broken. That is also when whatever clout Brunsvold wields will be needed to protect outdoorsmen's interests.