Well, the Freedom States Alliance is back in the news offering our insights and analysis on the gun lobby and industry's latest radical agenda -- see our quote in the story below.

In yesterday's alert, FSA was quoted in an article about South Carolina giving a "sales tax holiday" to gun owners as an incentive to purchase firearms. We strongly disagreed, and said that no government should give special treatment to any industry that manufactures, distributes and promotes deadly products.

And again, Freedom States Alliance was asked to comment on legislation recently enacted in Delaware that permits hunters to use powerful handguns, such as .50 caliber handguns that can puncture a police officer's bullet proof vest, as a giveaway to a small niche market of "hobbyists."

But perhaps more advantageous to the gun lobby is its ability to claim that every urban weapon of mayhem can be used for "hunting." Oh yes, hunting -- the gun lobby's favorite trump card to play whenever public policy is debated about reducing urban violence, regulating the gun industry or protecting the lives of our law enforcement officers.

Scroll below to read FSA's comments in the Daily Times on Nov. 17th:

MILTON -- While shotgun season remains the most popular, outdoorsmen now have an extended opportunity to use a handgun to hunt deer in Delaware.
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"This change increases the probability of harvest and stimulates the economy," said Joe Rogerson, Department Natural Resources and Environmental Control's game mammal biologist. "But really it just gives hunters the opportunity to use different weapons."

The season began Nov. 14 and runs through Saturday.

Last year, 75 percent of the total deer harvest was made by the end of the November season. Rogerson said the total deer harvest this year is expected to be 13,500 deer. The season is crucial to keep Delaware's estimated population of 49,000 deer in check.

Handgun use during deer season was signed into legislation in May 2005 by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. Delaware was the 48th state to legalize handgun use for hunting on a limited basis.

It began as a six-day season in January for which hunters could apply to daily lotteries for a limited number of permits. They could hunt at five state wildlife areas or use private land below the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Handgun use went up 21.6 percent from the 2006-07 season to the 2007-08 season.

Rogerson said due to the often difficult January weather, the DNREC lobbied for extended handgun use.

"Handguns of this kind are relatively expensive, and hunters who went out and bought them can now have the opportunity to use them all season," he said.

In most Maryland counties, modern handguns may be used to hunt deer. Any modern handgun used for deer hunting must have a barrel length of 6 inches or more.

Muzzleloading handguns --both single shot and revolvers -- may be used to hunt deer in all counties. Muzzleloading handguns used for deer hunting must be at least .40 caliber in size with a barrel length of at least 6 inches.

But since the rules are fairly new in Delaware, hunters should not go about in the woods playing "Dirty Harry" with the deer. There are restrictions there, too.

"The use of handguns during hunting season restricts the caliber and barrel length of the gun," said Michael Globetti of DNREC's Public Affairs Office.

Globetti said the laws also require hunters carry their firearms visibly in slings or holsters. Revolvers and single-shot pistols with a minimum barrel length of 5.75 inches and a maximum of 12.5 inches are permitted.

"Legal handguns that range from .357 to .44 Magnum and .41 to .50 caliber are also permitted," he said. "These are bulky weapons that are made specifically for hunting."
Opposition

The Freedom States Alliance is a national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to reducing gun-related deaths and injuries through public awareness campaigns. According to the FSA Web site, .50 caliber guns have effective ranges up to 2,000 yards, or 20 football fields laid end to end. Deer hunters typically shoot at ranges of 150-200 yards.

"We don't support this change," said Scott Vogel, communications director of FSA. "A .50-caliber handgun can easily puncture a police officer's vest."

Bob Miller, co-owner of Miller's Gun Center in New Castle, Del., said most hunters are continuing to hunt as usual and rarely with extremely large calibers.

"If they're using a handgun, they're usually using a .44 Magnum," said Miller.

Vogel said the FSA thinks the use of handguns for hunting caters to a small group and that group can hunt with other weapons.

"It's the nature of any product. It will be bought, stolen, lost or resold. The question is why, what's the need." he said.

Vogel said the FSA worries that the greatest consequence of this issue is that the change has created a market for growth that could potentially support urban warfare.