George,

It is interesting that Republicans in the sway of the NRA will argue that gun ownership rights are absolute, and that localities may not impinge on them in anyway, while arguing just the reverse for state limitations on abortion.

Recent news articles have pointed out that sport hunting is way down in America, to the point that game agencies (whose revenues come largely from hunting and fishing licenses) are suffering. In rural America, especially, gun ownership and hunting are cultural imperatives and Democrats should be comfortable with that. What I was unsuccessful at was distinguishing the wrongheadedness of many of the NRA positions, on which a candidate for Congress must opine, from my support for gun owners' rights. Just another issue on which nuance is very difficult.

- Al Weed (electronic mail, September 6, 2007)