Vol. 09 Special Edition – June 26, 2008

Former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee spoke to a capacity filled room of hunting, shooting sports and firearms industry leaders earlier this morning during the National Shooting Sports Foundation's (NSSF) Shooting Sports Summit.

"What a great honor it was to have Governor Huckabee, a stalwart supporter of the hunting, shooting sports and firearms industry speak with us today," said NSSF President Steve Sanetti.

Gov. Huckabee spoke of the importance of the upcoming presidential election and the future of hunting, noting that the latter was just as much about a growing economy, a healthy environment, strong ethics and a lasting heritage to be passed on to future generations.

"Sportsmen contribue $30 billion dollars annually to the U.S. economy," said Huckabee, who also mentioned that 986,000 jobs were linked to America's hunters and shooters. .

Concerning the environment, Gov. Huckabee drew attention to the fact that sportsmen contribute $3 million dollars a day to conservation efforts. "It's not the people who hug the trees, it's the people who hide behind the trees and wait for something to come out (who are the real conservationists)."

Huckabee concluded his remarks by discussing how hunting and the shooting sports help foster a strong sense of personal responisbility and ethics in America's youth and the importance of passing on our nation's hunting and shooting traditions to future generations.