Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis
    Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis
    Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis
    Ebook203 pages3 hours

    Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis

    By Jimmy Carter

    3.5/5

    ()

    Switch to audiobook
    Read preview

    About this ebook

    President Jimmy Carter offers a passionate defense of separation of church and state, warning that fundamentalists are deliberately blurring the lines between politics and religion.

    In Our Endangered Values, Jimmy Carter offers a personal consideration of "moral values" as they relate to the important issues of the day. He puts forward a passionate defense of separation of church and state, and a strong warning about where the country is heading as the lines between politics and rigid religious fundamentalism are blurred.

    Carter describes his reactions to recent disturbing societal trends that involve both religious and political worlds as they increasingly intertwine and include some of the most crucial and controversial issues of the day. Many of these matters are under fierce debate. They include preemptive war, women's rights, terrorism, civil liberties, homosexuality, abortion, the death penalty, science and religion, environmental degradation, nuclear arsenals, America's global image, fundamentalism, and the melding of religion and politics.

    Sustained by his lifelong faith, Jimmy Carter assesses these issues in a balanced and courageous way.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster
    Release dateNov 1, 2005
    ISBN9780743292368
    Author

    Jimmy Carter

    Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States, author of numerous books, teacher at Emory University, founder of the Carter Center, and the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Carter worked with Emory University to establish the Carter Center, a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization advances human rights and alleviates human suffering in seventy-five countries worldwide. Carter is the only U.S. President to receive the Nobel Peace Prize after leaving office.    

    Read more from Jimmy Carter

    Related to Our Endangered Values

    Related ebooks

    Social Science For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Against National Unity

      May 20, 2021

      THE TRADITIONAL MOTTO of the United States is e pluribus unum—from many, one. Suggested by the French designer Pierre Eugène du Simitière, the phrase is apparently derived from the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero. In De Officiis, his treatise

      5 min read

    • Article

      Once A Nation Of Joiners, Americans Are Now Suspicious Of Those Who Do

      Jan 9, 2019

      The erosion of social groups in the United States is a widely recognized trend. But when distrust of membership spreads to faith groups, misunderstanding can breed fear and jeopardize constitutional protections.

      5 min read

    • Article

      NEGATIVE: Ideological Differences Don’t Necessitate Divorce

      Mar 16, 2023

      CALLS FOR NATIONAL divorce imply that Americans are too different to share a country. Better to retreat to enclaves. Better to cluster with those who share your political affinity and religious beliefs. Let’s stick to our own kind. This crude tribali

      4 min read

    • Article

      Should Religion Play A Role In Politics?

      Jan 1, 2019

      YASMIN: Faith and state should always be kept separate. I am a practising Shi’a Muslim. I pray, go to mosque and feel part of a wider global community. My faith is in my heart and head – indoors, intensely personal. It’s solace; an antidote to the li

      5 min read

    • Article

      Commentary: Sin in America

      Feb 21, 2022

      Commentary: Sin in America
      3 min read

    • Article

      Our Destructive Cycle Of Us-vs.-them Thinking

      Jan 22, 2021

      AT THIS MOMENT OF SHOCK, SADNESS AND HOPE, it might be wise to reflect on the two most dangerous words in the human vocabulary: us and them. On Jan. 6, we received a dramatic reminder of this peril when our nation’s political divisions erupted into a

      2 min read

    • Article

      Our Destructive Cycle Of Us-vs.-them Thinking

      Jan 22, 2021

      AT THIS MOMENT OF SHOCK, SADNESS AND HOPE, IT MIGHT be wise to reflect on the two most dangerous words in the human vocabulary: us and them. On Jan. 6, we received a dramatic reminder of this peril when our nation’s political divisions erupted into a

      2 min read

    • Article

      Is America Coming Apart?

      Sep 11, 2020

      Is America Coming Apart?
      5 min read

    • Article

      Is America Coming Apart?

      Sep 11, 2020

      Is America Coming Apart?
      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Our Endangered Values

    3.5/5

    217 ratings15 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Jimmy Carter is one of the finest, most honest politicians and presidents the U.S. has elected, as well as being one of the most intelligent, religious and well educated, and his insights, evaluations, warnings and frustrations are all laid bare here.One of the things that struck me is the continued timeliness of the book despite having been published in 2005. His analysis of the Middle East situation is "spot-on" and his concerns for the long term thoughtlessness and selfishness of U.S. political decisions are prophetic after eleven years. Statistics and information are well documented.This book should be a "must read" regardless of one's political philosophy.
    • 5/5
      Gracefully written, this book explains how many of the changes in American policy are responsible for today's economic, social, and political issues at home and abroad. An important book for everyone to read.
    • 2/5
      The main problem I had with this book is that it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Part of the time it wanted to be a serious political analysis, but throughout were random *facts* such as “there has been a substantial increase in the number of Republicans who have confidence in government, with little difference now between the parties in that regard,â€? or “prejudice against the poor is decreasing significantly among all Americans,â€? without any attempt at justifying these *facts* with actual FACTS. Where are these numbers coming from? Polls, surveys? The author provides no footnotes, no endnotes, we are just to take his word for it (hello! Don’t question Carter! What are you thinking?) Sometimes it wants to be religious (with the reader constantly being reminded that Carter is a good religious guy. A Baptist. And a good one. Because he loves Jesus. He is one good Christian Baptist who likes Jesus alright). Sometimes it wants to be a memoir. (Did you know Carter was president? Carter is not sure you are aware. To combat this, he will reassure you of this fact over and over and over again. He was a president, you know). Shockingly enough, I probably agreed with at least 75% of the politics expressed in Carter’s book. But his way of expressing them drove me completely, completely insane.
    • 4/5
      This book shows that over the past 10 years we have done little to solve the most pressing problems that our society has faced and that if we continue with thinking that everything is O.K. we are fooling ourselves
    • 4/5
      Perhaps the greatest ex-president of all time (I know, Harding never got the chance), it's a good look at his mid-2000s assessment of the moral issues facing the country. As an admittedly non-religious person, it's interesting to see the perspective of a lifelong devout Christian.
    • 5/5
      Former president Carter is often characterized as a devout Christian peanut farmer. While that is accurate he is much more than that. This book reveals that he is also a career Navy man and a nuclear physicist and of course, former POTUS who has a unique and invaluable perspective of world affairs as well as Christian beliefs. Although many may expect a narrow minded, Christian-centric diatribe against people who don't share his beliefs this book is a well thought out study of the endangered values of the US. After reading the book I have a new found respect for this amazing man. His revelation of many problems with the US government and the negative influence of fundamentalist thinking was not a total surprise. The insight into the details and extent of the problem was, at times, frightening. I recommend this book to anyone who gives a damn about our world and fellow humans regardless of personal beliefs.
    • 3/5
      It's been a long time since I started and finished a book in one night - and I never expected former president Jimmy Carter's book to be such a fast read. The more I find out about this man, the more I admire him. I was only 6 when he became president - and I knew three things about him. He was a former farmer, he had a brother named Billy and (later) he was the president during the Iran hostage crisis. Since I've gotten older and since he's gone on to do many admirable things on the world stage, I've come to move him high up on my list of great people. "Our Endangered Values" only reinforces that belief. These are essays on many of the issues that trouble me as I look at the horribly wrong direction our country is headed - and I now know that Carter is even more worried than I. (I didn't think that was possible!) He, of course, has been intimately involved in many of the most pressing issues of our time, and has met many of the world leaders involved. Most of the book is tied into his Christian faith in some way, most powerfully, I think, when he talks about the rise of fundamentalism in the world. Not only Islamic fundamentalism, which seems to jump to mind first, but also Christian fundamentalism - a trend I find almost as scary. Maybe more so, at times, because I feel it affecting our country every day, and not in positive ways. He points out that fundamentalists of any faith have the following in common: They are led my authoritarian males who have an overwhelming commitment to subjugate women and to dominate their fellow believers, they believe the past is better than the present, they are convinced that they are right and that anyone who contradicts them is ignorant and possibly evil, they are militant in fighting against any challenge to their beliefs...hmmm - sound remarkably like the idiot in the White House! By the end of the book, I found myself almost feeling worse for Jimmy Carter than for our country. Those institutions and people in which he had such faith are failing him and are heading down paths he is no longer willing to follow. Carter writes with great emotion, and clearly refutes neoconservative arguments on abortion, the death penalty, the war in Iraq. (I was appalled by this fact: 90% of all executions are carried out in just four countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States. In fact, our nation and Somalia (which has no organized government) are the only two that have refused to ratify the International Covenant on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits execution for crimes committed by children. Nice company we're in.) I found myself moved by his dismay and amazed by some of his facts, but I didn't finish the book with any sense of purpose. He does not offer much of a solution to the problems that are facing our country. He very clearly writes against what we should not be doing but doesn't really tell us what we should be doing to stem this tide. I guess I can always look at my "Bush Countdown" clock for that...

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This was the first book I ever read by former president Carter. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this certainly wasn’t it. Today it seems hard to imagine that one of our most deeply spiritual presidents was a Democrat. Our Endangered Values describes the rise of the Christian right and the danger this posses. Carter is simple and elegant, using examples from his own life to illustrate how our values have become endangered by a religious/political movement.
    • 4/5
      I've always been amazed that the country was so concerned about whether Carter would be a good President because he was a professed "born again Christian," and yet in the years after his term ended, suddenly (according to the devout fundamentalists across the country) belief in God was mandatory, the Bible scriptures held all the answers, and God suddenly became property of only the Republican party. All Democrats were labeled as godless liberals who reveled in killing babies, adding massive programs to an already too-big government, and were probably just a shade less sinister than the Red Communists with their cries for affordable national health care programs. That's why Carter's moderate voice and considered opinions as put forth in this book are so needed right now. No one can argue that this isn't a highly intelligent, God-fearing man who lives his faith every day of his life and has a unique perspective on government, having been there and done that. He takes on the "fumdamentalist" views on everything from gay marriage and abortion, to tax cuts, the horrifying new doctrine of pre-emptive war, science and religion, church and state, the subservience of women, environmentalism, and the sharp and growing difference between rich and poor in this world. His is a clear and intelligent voice, crying in the wilderness, justifying so-called "liberal" view-points, and asking, somewhat rhetorically, "What Would Jesus Have Done About Iraq?" He's trying to get America to open our eyes about the unfair and unAmerican policies of the new Conservatives who seem to have taken over our government. He's confronting the "neocons" where they stand, on pulpits across America, and demanding an explanation of how the Bush Doctrine of Pre-Emptive War can co-exist with a Christian philosophy of turning the other cheek or even with our own American history. He exposes something that I have long suspected was true: that the foreign and environmental policies of this country are being based, incredibly, on dogma from the Book of Revelations. No need to take care of the earth because it's going to end soon anyway. Back Israel, right or wrong, because that's how it's got to be.Carter makes it obvious that the policies and doctrines of the current government are paving the way for the fall of America and the destruction of some of our basic values. This book was a joy to read, the voice of a moderate who just happens to be a Democrat. It makes total sense and finds the common ground between both parties and plans. Whether you are Christian or atheist, Pagan or Jew, there is common sense in this book that will appeal to that part of you that USED to be a proud American. I'd recommend this book if you are at all interested in politics or the direction this country is heading and why.
    • 5/5
      I admire former President Jimmy Carter very much. I voted for him when he was elected President and when he lost his bid for reelection due to the Iran hostage situation. In this book he expresses his strong support for the separation of church and state and his concern that fundamentalist religious fanatics have been endangering the moral fiber of American society. He also discusses how such fundamentalist political influence has been embraced by the Bush administration to a point that endangers our human rights, our democratic way of life, and our country’s stature among the nations of the world. He discusses the death penalty, environmental degradation, nuclear arsenals, terrorism and the melding of religion and politics. It’s a very personal, but well presented work that I enjoyed very much even though it did make me somewhat sad.
    • 5/5
      A good read, I think Mr. Carter used this title to critique the current administration and rightly so. He has tremendous insights into people and current events.I bought & got this book autographed on November 3,2005 at Books A Million in Concord NC. We were moved around frequently while waiting and there were cameras on everyone who approached the President for the autograph. Mr. Carter is very polite and gracious in person.I have a habit of putting my hand to my ear and leaning forward when I need to hear something repeated. President Carter said something I didn't catch and I thought I was going to be tackled by a security guard when I forgot myself and leaned forward. I think I will just pick up one of the previously signed copies and snap photos the next time I get the autograph of an ex president!
    • 3/5
      My first vote for president was for Jimmy Carter in 1980. I'd vote for him over any republican and most democrats today. I can't think of any other public individual who better combines a grasp of the political scene, the promise of American idealism, and personal morality than President Carter. This is a fine book that explores the issues and controversies facing America in the 2000s in the context from a moral & Christian perspective. President Carter not so subtly blasts the current administration and those who blindly cowtow to their global view, which, his view, is neither Christian or moral in word or practice. This is a fine book, though already a tad dated in discussing rapidly changing current events. It should be read by anyone who wishes for the return of common decency and morality to American society and politics.
    • 4/5
      Initially not too surprising, but the info on iraq was eye-openingGood
    • 5/5
      I found this book to be a fascinating examination of the simultaneous rise of fundamentalism in religion and politics -- not only in other countries but our own. Carter reiterates his own Christian faith to ensure his readers do not misinterpret his views as anti-faith ... instead drawing bold paradoxes between the biblical Jesus and the political agenda which most virulently aligns itself "with Jesus." Though I, too, struggled with the lack of reference noting, I found Carter's assessment incisive.
    • 4/5
      Imagine that, a smart President. Maybe he wasn't the most successful President we ever had, but The Carter Center's work in fighting poverty, proliferation, and disease has been amazing. A quick read, but quite good.

    Book preview

    Our Endangered Values - Jimmy Carter

    INTRODUCTION

    Americans cherish the greatness of our homeland, but many do not realize how extensive and profound are the transformations that are now taking place in our nation’s basic moral values, public discourse, and political philosophy.

    Our people have been justifiably proud to see America’s power and influence used to preserve peace for ourselves and others, to promote economic and social justice, to raise high the banner of freedom and human rights, to protect the quality of our environment, to alleviate human suffering, to enhance the rule of law, and to cooperate with other peoples to reach these common goals.

    With the most diverse and innovative population on earth, we have learned the value of providing our citizens with accurate information, treating dissenting voices and beliefs with respect, and accommodating free and open debate on controversial issues. Most of our political leaders have extolled state and local autonomy, attempted to control deficit spending, avoided foreign adventurism, minimized long-term peacekeeping commitments, preserved the separation of church and state, and protected civil liberties and personal privacy.

    All of these historic commitments are now being challenged.

    Most of the crucial and controversial issues that we confront were debated long before I became president. These controversies are natural, and most are unavoidable. They involve abortion, the death penalty, science versus religion, women’s rights, the separation of religion and politics, homosexuality, America’s foreign policy and our global image, civil liberties, the threat of terrorism, nuclear proliferation, the prevalence of guns, the choice between war and peace, environmental quality, and justice for the poor.

    More recent debates over these same issues have caused almost unprecedented divisions within our country, with both Democratic and Republican Parties relying on vituperative commercials to win elections, congressional deliberations increasingly characterized by partisan animosity, and our entire population having adopted red and blue as habitual descriptive phrases within and between states.

    What has aroused these sharp disputes and, at the same time, engendered such profound departures from America’s traditional values? One factor is our nation’s reaction to the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, as we realized the intensity, permanence, and global nature of terrorism. Another change is that massive sums of money are being injected into the political process, with unprecedented influence of special interests within the increasingly secretive deliberations of government.

    The most important factor is that fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree. At the same time, these religious and political conservatives have melded their efforts, bridging the formerly respected separation of church and state. This has empowered a group of influential neoconservatives, who have been able to implement their long-frustrated philosophy in both domestic and foreign policy.

    The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation’s historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship.

    Narrowly defined theological beliefs have been adopted as the rigid agenda of a political party. Powerful lobbyists, both inside and outside government, have distorted an admirable American belief in free enterprise into the right of extremely rich citizens to accumulate and retain more and more wealth and pass all of it on to descendants. Profits from stock trading and income from dividends are being given privileged tax status compared to the wages earned by schoolteachers and firemen. To quote a Christian friend, the new economic philosophy in Washington is that a rising tide raises all yachts.

    The irresolvable differences of opinion on abortion, homosexuality, and other sensitive social issues have been exacerbated by the insistence of intensely committed hard-liners on imposing their minority views on a more moderate majority.

    •  •  •

    Our nation has declared independence from the restraints of international organizations and has disavowed many longstanding global agreements, including judicial decisions, nuclear arms accords, controls on biological weapons, environmental protection, the international system of justice, and the humane treatment of prisoners. Even with our troops involved in combat and America facing the threat of additional terrorist attacks, we have neglected alliances with most of the very nations we need to have join us in the long-term fight against global terrorism. All these political actions have been orchestrated by those who believe that the utilization of our nation’s tremendous power and influence should not be constrained by foreigners. Regardless of the costs, some leaders are openly striving to create a dominant American empire throughout the world.

    Based on these premises, it is no longer considered necessary to observe restraints on attacking other nations militarily, provided often uncertain intelligence sources claim that their military or political policies might eventually be dangerous to the United States. When branded an axis of evil, they are pariahs no longer acceptable as negotiating partners, and the lives of their people tend to become relatively inconsequential.

    Fortunately, these national policies and this disharmony have not yet become permanent, as many members of the general public, legislators, federal judges, Christians, and other believers are still searching for harmonious answers to most of the controversial religious and political questions. It is in America’s best interests to understand one another and to find as much common ground as possible.

    After a lifetime of involvement in religious and public affairs, I can understand how sincere are those who have promoted these recent changes. I have experienced the intensity of patriotism as a submarine officer, the ambitions of a competitive businessman, and the intensity of political debate. I have been sorely tempted to launch a military attack on foreigners, and have felt the frustration of having to negotiate with allies or even former enemies to reach a consensus instead of taking more decisive unilateral action.

    It has been a struggle for me to withstand pressures from cherished constituents in my political decisions as a state senator, governor, and president. Despite what I consider to be a constitutional and biblical requirement for the separation of church and state, I must acknowledge that my own religious beliefs have been inextricably entwined with the political principles I have adopted.

    As a private citizen, I will deliberately mix religion and politics in this book. In part of the text I will analyze moral values from a religious point of view, and then include my assessment of the adverse impact of recent political decisions on these same values. I will express my opinions as frankly as possible, as a born again evangelical Christian and a former political leader. In the religious realm, I shall depend on the Holy Scriptures, as interpreted by the words and actions of Jesus Christ. On political issues, I shall rely as much as possible on my own personal experiences and observations.

    I realize that many readers, even those who share a similar religious and political background, will find some of my opinions to be different from their own. Quite likely, many of them do not realize what is happening in America, and it may be beneficial to raise the issues to the level of increased debate.

    1

    AMERICA’S COMMON BELIEFS—AND STRONG DIFFERENCES

    The most controversial issues being addressed within our nation will be discussed in the following chapters. It will be helpful to understand the prevailing personal opinions of American citizens, their differences and similarities, how they have been modified or remain the same, and whether they are compatible with the profound political changes taking place in our country.

    Stronger and sharper partisan differences have evolved among Americans in recent years, quite a departure from when I was in the White House. In those days, I had a good batting average in having my proposals accepted by the Congress, and the political divisions were based much more on issues than on whether members were Democrats or Republicans. As a Southern moderate and former career naval officer, I espoused a conservative fiscal policy and a strong defense. A commitment to human rights came, I guess, from my personal knowledge of the devastating effect of racial segregation in my region of the country.

    Soon after arriving in Washington, I was surprised and disappointed when no Democratic member of Congress would sponsor my first series of legislative proposals—to reorganize parts of the federal bureaucracy—and I had to get Republicans to take the initiative. Thereafter, my shifting coalitions of support comprised the available members of both parties who agreed with me on specific issues, with my most intense and mounting opposition coming from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. (One reason for this was the ambition of Senator Ted Kennedy to replace me as president.)

    Nowadays, the Washington scene is completely different, with almost every issue decided on a strictly partisan basis. Probing public debate on key legislative decisions is almost a thing of the past. Basic agreements are made between lobbyists and legislative leaders, often within closed party caucuses where rigid discipline is paramount. Even personal courtesies, which had been especially cherished in the U.S. Senate, are no longer considered to be sacrosanct. This deterioration in harmony, cooperation, and collegiality in the Congress is, at least in part, a result of the rise of fundamentalist tendencies and their religious and political impact.

    Fortunately, this degree of rigidity and confrontation has not yet taken hold among the general public. In preparing this book I have searched for the best assessments of American public opinion, so that I could understand the reasons for, and the extent of, agreements and divisions among our people.

    A strong majority of both Democrats and Republicans agree that our country is more politically divided than at any time in living memory, a fact that is partially explained by the doubtful presidential election of 2000 and the almost unchanging split during the following years between red and blue states. Partisan differences of support and disapproval of our two most recent presidents are quite clear, with the personal popularity of President Bush among Democrats lower than was President Clinton’s among Republicans while his impeachment proceedings were under way. The ongoing Iraqi war is especially indicative, with diametrically opposite opinions on whether the conflict is going well or has improved national security.

    These sharp disagreements might be written off as just partisan wrangling, but their impact on our nation’s present and future international policies is significant. Among Republicans, the percentage endorsing diplomacy in preference to military action is minimal, while Democrats take the opposite point of view. In the approach to combating terrorism, two-thirds of Republicans believe that use of overwhelming force is best, while an even larger proportion of Democrats think that, although our armed forces should be used when our nation’s security is threatened, excessive use of military action tends to increase animosity against our country and breed more terrorists. This sharp and growing difference over the issue of whether international disputes can be better resolved by diplomacy or by military action is now the most accurate predictor of party affiliation—more important than gay marriage, homosexuality, or abortion.

    It is encouraging that Americans overwhelmingly agree on several important questions: the value of religion in individual lives, the power of personal initiative to realize human potential, the need to protect the environment even if that is costly, doubt about the integrity of big business, and a desire for federal obscenity laws against hard-core pornography to be enforced vigorously.

    Although the number is small, four times as many Republicans as Democrats think that tough environmental laws hurt the economy. There has been a substantial increase in the number of Republicans who have confidence in government, with little difference now between the parties in that regard. Americans also increasingly support more government assistance for the poor and needy, but one remaining difference is that many more Republicans than Democrats believe that poor people have easy lives. It is encouraging that this prejudice against the poor is decreasing significantly among all Americans.

    There are strong differences about social issues, but many opinions are changing and most of them have little clear impact in the political arena. The intensity of feeling about controversial issues is often much more important than the numerical divisions. This is especially apparent when the subject of debate is abortion or gun control, where the opinion of a persistent majority of Americans has had little effect in the political world.

    A majority of Americans think that abortions should be legal in all or most cases, and only one in six believes that all abortions should be illegal. The fervor and activism of this small minority greatly magnify their influence, especially within the U.S. Congress.

    Concerning gun control, an overwhelming majority believe in the right to own weapons, but four of five Americans prefer modest restraints on handguns, including a background check, mandatory registration, and a brief waiting period before one is purchased.

    A disturbing change in government policy has involved the firearms industry. Supported by succeeding Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, legislation was passed by Congress in 1994 that for ten years prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and possession of nineteen specific semiautomatic assault weapons, including AK-47s, AR-15s, and UZIs. None of these are used for hunting—only for killing other humans. More than eleven hundred police chiefs and sheriffs from around the nation called on Congress and President Bush to renew and strengthen the federal assault weapons ban in 2004, but with a wink from the White House, the gun lobby prevailed and the ban expired.

    This is not a controversy that involves homeowners, hunters, or outdoorsmen. I have owned and used weapons since I was big enough to carry one, and now own a handgun, four shotguns, and two rifles. I use them carefully, for harvesting game from our woods and fields and during an occasional foray to hunt with my family and friends in other places. We cherish these rights, and some of my companions like to collect rare weapons.

    But many of us who participate in outdoor sports are dismayed by some of the more extreme policies of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and by the timidity of public officials who yield to their unreasonable demands. Heavily influenced and supported by the

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1