Smallbore, we have something on the order of 15-20 million hunters in this country, so it's not a small group by any means. But while all hunters are gun owners (excepting perhaps a scattered few bow purists), the majority of gun owners aren't hunters. And while there are some American gun owners who are willing to sacrifice the gun rights of others ("assault" rifles, handguns, etc), most realize that's the slippery slope to gun control hell.
Jack, I'm also an Ike, and I also teach hunter education at my local Ikes chapter (which is where most of the hunter ed courses in Iowa are taught). Having said that, your holding up the Ikes as a group that's going to stand up for the 2nd amendment is on pretty shaky ground. Individual Ikes, such as you or me, might do that. But in thinking over what I read in their magazine, Outdoor America (the most recent issue of which I just received) or in our local chapter newsletter, I cannot recall the last time I ever saw anything about gun rights, or about the Ikes lobbying Congress on gun rights issues. Their focus is mostly environmental, with a strong hunter/angler base, and they do run a lot of shooting ranges. But I don't think the Ikes are front and center in the 2nd amendment battles on the Hill. The NRA may not be the only organization that is (but they're certainly the most powerful), but can you show examples of the IWLA fighting that particular fight?
