Faux Outdoor Groups Have No Place in Land-Use Debate/Political Process

           The Famous Carnegie "Eco-Hoax" Fish - The only fish that has ever been in the tiny stream

Over the last few years, HQ has written about faux OHV groups who have been created by far left green groups as a way to try and confuse general recreationists and elected officials. One of HQ’s blogs exposed several of these groups as nothing more then a proverbial “Skunk at the Party.”

HQ Blog on Skunks at the Party
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-green-skunk-at-ohv-party-old-trick.html

BRC article about Skunks at the Party
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2011/08/16/skunks-party-dave-skinners-latest-dont-miss-article

Based on my experience with fake OHV groups, it came as no surprise when I read over the Thanksgiving Holiday about “Montana Hunters and Anglers” - a faux sportsmen’s group that is nothing more than a political attack dog - seeking to take out Congressman Denny Rehberg (MT) in the 2012 election.

Ron Arnold’s Article on Faux Hunting and Fishing Group in Montana
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2011/11/montana-outdoors-group-actually-stealth-democratic-attack-dog

OHVers in the SF Bay Area got their dose of a closure oriented “sportsmen’s” group several years ago when the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed a suit to “protect fishing” at the Carnegie OHV Park. Trouble was that there have never been any fish in the tiny intermittent stream that runs in the center of the park. It was totally a faux issue much like the effort being used to unseat Congressman Rehberg.


Story on the Carnegie Eco-Hoax Fish
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/12/miracle-at-18600-corral-hollow-road.html

Working with legitimate environmental and conservation groups is something I do on a regular basis. However, faux OHV and hunting/fishing groups should have no place in the land-use debate or political process.
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Congressional Fix is Only Solution to CPSC Ban of OHVs

The General agrees with the National Association of Manufacturers and their March 24 letter which describes the fiscal impacts of the CPSC ban on OHVs sales, and other products. They too call for a Congressional fix.

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Click on Dear Colleague Letter to the right to

expand it.

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NAM March 24 Letter
http://www.reliableplant.com/article.aspx?articleid=16672&pagetitle=NAM+calls+for+action+to+fix+new+product+safety+law

Currently various bills (H.R. 968, etc.) designed to fix the problem are making their way through Congress. However, it appears that a rather new bill H.R. 1587 (the Dirt-Bike Bill) may be our best chance to get a resolution to the OHV crisis. I continue to believe it was Congress that gave us a well-intended law that was filled with ambiguity which ultimately lead to unintended consequences such as the banning many legitimate “non-toy” products. (see Dear Colleague letter posted with blog)

Stay tuned as you may be asked to contact your local Member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 1587.

Thanks for staying engaged!!!

The General