The choice is clear: Elect a President on the side of freedom

by Linda Walker

This fall, anticipation is high as hunting season gets underway. All across this nation, Americans are heading out to enjoy one of the deepest heritages in our land's history - hunting with family and friends. But this fall is one of the most anticipated in decades for another reason. It's election season, and the November election has just about everything on the line for gun owners and hunting enthusiasts.

Critical elections will be held to decide our future on the local, state and federal levels. Topping the list is the race for President. The winner will be a man who will fundamentally shape the state of our economy and the character of the Supreme Court. And it's America’s millions of gun owners and hunting enthusiasts who can determine the winner.

In these uncertain times, only one thing is certain - the Obama administration has failed. Over the last four years, gun owners and sportsmen and women have felt the pinch of this economy. 401k's have disappeared, salaries slashed, jobs lost.

Each day, it gets tougher for Americans to pay the mortgage, add to savings and have a little extra left over to pay $4.00 per gallon to go on a hunting trip. Even the price of ammunition is up. So are gun sales, but that's likely because the fear of losing liberty and the pursuit of happiness is rising faster than gasoline prices.

The price shock of filling up the SUV to drive to hunting camp is equaled by the political shock of the Obama administration's appointments to the judicial system. Before the end of his first term, President Obama will have appointed 42 vacancies to the nation's appeals court and more than 140 vacancies to the United States district courts. A second term would allow President Obama to continue the rampage on district courts and the conservative appointed majorities on the appeals courts.

The next president could transform the majority on the Supreme Court and determine who interprets freedoms for future generations. If Obama stays in office for a second term, untethered to the constraints of pleasing voters, the liberal appointments he may make could cripple your Second Amendment rights.

In contrast, Governor Romney has promised to appoint "wise, experienced and restrained judges." In a recent interview with the NRA, Romney said, "The Second Amendment is essential to our free society. I strongly support the right of all law-abiding Americans to exercise their constitutionally protected right to own firearms and to use them for lawful purposes, including self-defense; the protection of family and property; hunting and recreational shooting." Governor Romney also recognizes that hunting and related industries create a vast amount of jobs.

With these strong positions, and the selection of an avid hunter as a running mate, this NRA-endorsed candidate is the right man for the job - rather than his opponent who said when times are tough we "get bitter (and) cling to guns or religion." The Obama administration is intent on convincing voters that the next four years will be better. But with some of the highest unemployment and national debt figures in the history of this nation, it would be easier to convince a NRA member to trade in his SUV for a compact hybrid.

Governor Romney was dead right when he said, "We need a president who will stand up for the rights of those who simply want to protect themselves, their families and their homes and who want to continue America's rich hunting heritage. President Obama has not, but I will."

Americans need to get working again. Americans need to get hunting again. Our heritage is in grave jeopardy. This hunting season, have a really good story to tell about how you elected a President who is on your side, the side of freedom.

Linda Walker is the Central OH Chair of Buckeye Firearms Association, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association, NRA-ILA EVC for Ohio's 12th Congressional District, 2009 recipient of the NRA's "Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award," NRA certified instructor and sits on the legislative policy, state & local affairs subcommittee, women's policies and grassroots development committees of the NRA BoD.