From the Pew Environment Group, here's a highlight from their latest Virginia Global Warming and Energy Update:
Hunters/Anglers Lobby on Global WarmingEarlier this month, the National Wildlife Federation released a letter signed by 670 hunting and fishing organizations from all 50 states calling on Congress to pass strong global warming legislation that cuts U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by two percent every year. The two percent solution, or an 80% reduction by 2050, is what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says is needed to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. The sportsman's letter specifically calls for a cap and trade approach to reducing emissions.
"As a result of the known and predicted impacts to fish and wildlife from climate change, we ask that you cosponsor climate change legislation including a 'cap and trade' system that will reduce carbon dioxide pollution by 2% annually, or 80% by 2050, and channel new revenue to natural resource agencies for fish and wildlife conservation activities."
"There isn't a legislator worth his salt that wouldn't be paying attention to the local hunters and fishermen in their state," said Senator John Warner (R-VA) at a press conference where the letter was presented.
Sportsmen from all over the country came to Washington DC to lobby for the 2% a year reduction.
So, we've now got Christian evangelicals and other religious groups, hunters and anglers, and many others who "get it" on global warming. How about our state legislators, who just deep-sixed Chap Petersen's Clean Energy Future Act? Do they not "get it," or do they simply "get" more from Dominion and other corporate interest groups who prefer to rake in their profits while the planet burns up? As John Warner says, "There isn't a legislator worth his salt..." 'Nuff said.
I'm from Virginia Beach, and I do a lot of fishing. There are reasons we have rules on what you catch, how much you catch, etc. And though there are a few whiners, most of us understand the importance of these rules. Global Warming, and the insistence on combating it, is just as important as population management (if not more so!).
The Republican party does not have a monopoly on the protection of Second Amendment rights. That whole concept is soooo 1990's. Republicans have gotten weaker on the Second Amendment while Democrats have gotten stronger. Support for gun owners rights is in no way inconsistent with progressive values. The original progressive, Teddy Roosevelt, would certainly back me up on that.