This whole event just reminds me of the "Atlanta mindset". Most of you probably won't understand this, but, there is Atlanta (Ga.) and then there is the rest of Georgia. Most of the movers and shakers there don't have a clue what the rest of Georgia thinks, or care how we feel. Do not misunderstand me, please. I am not saying the rest of Georgia is red-neck and backwoods, quite the contrary. The biggest difference is in the peoples' values. I have respect for some from Atlanta, there are many fine people who live and work there, I'm not painting everyone there with the same brush. But, to think that they could draw 30,000 people to an outdoors oriented event in Atlanta, while doing numerous things to alienate the greatest base they had, was ludicrous. But, the organizers apparently really did think they could do it. Just shows either how out of touch they are, or that they were listening to some people who were giving them some very bad advice. I did my part to protest the lead shot ban, in letter (e-mail) and by not attending. The letter was answered by Marty Fischer, a friend of mine who helped organize the event, and some respectful disagreement ensued in the follow ups.
I don't see this mindset to the same degree in our neighboring states of Alabama and South Carolina. Columbia and Montgomery just don't seem so "light years away" from the rest of their state(s) as Georgia.
My apologies to any board members who may choose to live in Atlanta, and my sympathies as well. It is not my intention to disparage the hard working folks who live there. Mostly the politicians and corporate biggies who make decisions that affect the rest of the state. It's gotten a little better in the state government, IMO, but the mindset is hard to die.
SRH
