Success! “Save Our Heritage” Rally Defends Hunting Heritage
By Toby Trigger

Posted: September 24, 2016

On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Sportsmen’s Alliance celebrated the 20th annual “Save Our Heritage” Rally at Villa Milano Banquet & Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. The significance and success of the event underscoring the importance of the Sportsmen’s Alliance mission.

“Twenty years ago, this event started as a fundraising effort to save dove hunting in Ohio,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Today it’s an event that allows us to continue to protect hunting, fishing and trapping nationwide.”

In 1997, HSUS and Fund for Animals threatened to ban dove hunting in the Buckeye State, but the Sportsmen’s Alliance, along with partners, local business and sportsmen statewide, defeated the proposal. With serious attacks coming every year from animal-rights organizations, the Sportsmen’s Alliance continued the successful and entertaining event as a means to raise funds to fight these attempts to end hunting, fishing and trapping.

“We’re currently involved in lawsuits to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list and return them to state management in the Great Lakes states, a lawsuit to protect trapping in Maine that involves Canada lynx and next year we’re already looking at possible litigation to protect hunting, trapping and other management practices on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska, which came about through rule changes that silence public input, as well as supporting the delisting of the grizzly bear in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” said Heusinkveld. “Raising funds to fight these battles in court or on the ground, such as the ballot initiative in Montana that would end trapping on all public lands, is critical to the defense of our heritage and sound wildlife management principals.”

rally-trump-p2Highlighting that national fight to protect hunting, fishing and trapping was keynote speaker Eric Trump, avid hunter and son of GOP Presidential nomination Donald Trump. Eric and his brother Donald, Jr., have experienced attacks in the media by animal-rights extremists for their hunting activities for years. Trump spoke on the importance of protecting our outdoor heritage and Second Amendment rights, reminding the crowd that the next President could potentially appoint multiple Supreme Court justices, which could decide the fate of these issues for generations.

In addition to Eric Trump, there were many other dignitaries in attendance, including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Congressmen Bob Latta and Pat Tiberi, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, and candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Pat DeWine and Pat Fischer.

As for the past two decades, the “Save Our Heritage” rally featured silent auction items, live auction items, hunting adventures from around the world, dozens of firearms and games for attendees to play, as well as a catered three-course dinner.

This important event is only made possible by the generous support of sponsors, such as title sponsor MKS Supply, exclusive marketer for Hi-Point Firearms and Inland Manufacturing, and the $5,000 grand-prize sponsor Field & Stream stores.

Other important sponsors included Platinum Sponsor, International Bowhunting Organization; Gold Sponsor, Quality Deer Management Association; Drink Sponsor, Anheuser-Busch; Silent Auction Sponsor, National Wild Turkey Federation; Firearms Sponsor, Fin Feather and Fur Outfitters; and Prize Sponsors such as Yeti Coolers, Sitka Gear, Delta Waterfowl, Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Den.

(This article was originally posted at: http://www.sportsmensalliance.org/news/success-save-our-heritage-rally-defends-hunting-heritage/)

About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research.  Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: OnlineFacebookTwitter and Instagram.

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