Yesterday’s feature (https://www.theoutdoorwire.com/features/d7d05811-5089-4780-9720-31c20a87ffac) as expected, drew more than a little response. When you write about politics, especially in absolute terms, you can absolutely expect responses.

The responses we received, weren’t the ones I’d expected. Normally, going into pure politics (two words that look jarringly inappropriate when used in conjunction) divides response into two distinct groups.

Apparently, one group was out being “woke” while the other was responding.

Seems I’m not the only person considering the stark differences between the two national political parties, especially when it comes to their diametrically opposed positions on guns and gun owners. Unlike House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, I do not consider President Trump and the Republicans in Congress “enemies of the state” or “domestic enemies” (yes, she did call them that, although she’s attempted to walk that back -slightly- since the MSNBC interview).

Having lived in, and reported from, countries where “enemies of the state” occasionally disappeared in the wee small hours of the morning, I’m leery of anyone tossing that kind of language around. Especially when she’s already dismissed the acts of rioters in her home district as their simply “doing what they do”. If rioting’s OK, “disappearing someone” can’t be too-far behind on the acceptability chart.

Despite the fact many “contemporary” services regularly make a practice of making snide comments over reader responses, they’re important. They’re not always pleasant to read, but they’re always important reality checks to let the writers know they’re attuned to the audience.

Touching the things you consider important should always be the goal. It’s not always what happens, but it should always be the goal.

That’s why one bit of three-part suggestion from a subscriber in Virginia is important enough to excerpt for today:

“Mention that while the race for the White House is important, down-ballot races are in many cases equally so. I live in Virginia where voter turnout in the elections last year – especially among gun owners – was way down and the result is a state legislature hell bent on gun control over every kind…. One-gun-a-month is back and now we have “universal back ground checks” and red flag law on the books. Magazine and suppressor bans are next as well as bans and confiscation of “assault weapons.” Virginia is now a blue state where President Trump isn’t likely to do well and we’re not likely to defeat our incumbent Senator or any of the radical Congressman. So, some folks might say, “why should I vote.” There are plenty of states like this and so I hope you can still encourage turnout to help down-ballot pro-gun candidates.”

He’s exactly correct. The top slot is important, but making certain that everyone under that slot is examined and endorsed-or rejected- based on their individual positions is crucial. Without the support of Congress, the President’s virtually isolated on an island. Without politicians who reflect your core values at the state and local levels, you’re on that island, too.

This engaged reader also asked that we do something else: provide information on how to get registered to vote. That provided what is occasionally described as a “blinding glimpse of the obvious” - having been registered to vote for more than four decades, it’s easy to assume that everyone else is registered as well.

That, as the Hunting the Vote movement reflects, is not the case. But it’s easily remedied.

If you’re not registered to vote, it’s not a tough thing to change. It’s not as simple as going online, but online is where you can find out what steps will get you registered.

Visit this site on the internet and you’re on the way to getting registered to vote.

The official United States government website is https://vote.gov. Once you go there, you select your state or territory and the site will guide you to-and through- the registration requirements. They’re different state-to-state, so we’re not going to try and tell you the process.

But we’ve told you where to begin the process, and that should be enough motivation to get you started making your voice heard where it’s most impactful: at the voting booth.

The voting booth is one of the few remaining places in the world where all men- and women- are equal. Rich or poor, whatever your race, color or creed, everyone’s vote counts exactly the same: one person, one vote.

We’ll keep you posted.

—Jim Shepherd