Outdoors in RI: Fishing Show, youth turkey shoot and archery, self-defense, 2A update- Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, contributing writer

Photo: Beach Whisperers, Pamela Bhatia, Artistic Images RI

With the weather forecast to be iffy this weekend, keep the NE Salt Water Fishing Show in mind. The NE Salt Water Fishing show will be held from March 8th to 10th, 2024 at the RI Convention Center. Hours will be:

With 300 vendor booths plus an attendance last year of 9,600, the show should go well over 10K this year. General admission is $15 at the door. Kids 11 and under are free and can visit the kid’s casting area. Free entry for all ladies on Sunday. Ladies – fishing is no longer just a guy’s sport.

Tackle dealers as well as all sorts of other type vendors will be attending from various locations around the USA.  One never knows what they will find at these shows.  It is at a show that I discovered waterproof Pelican cell phone cases.  I purchased them for a steal!  Also discovered a high-end tactical flashlight as well as Myron’s 20 Gauge sauce. There will be various food vendors there as well including 5 Star Sausage Company.  5 Star will also be offering Gourmet Pickles which are in high demand at the shows.  My friend, Seth, a Marine Corp Veteran may attend the show.  Seth is a fancier of sausage stemming from his days in the Marine Corps and will likely have his fancy accommodated at the show – and he can enjoy a juicy pickle as well.  The show will produce items of interest for everyone even those new to the saltwater fishing sport.  Hope to see you all there.

Information link: New England Saltwater Fishing Show – The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association

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A reminder that the deadline for the Overnight Youth Wild Turkey Hunt for 12-15 year olds

Coordinated with The Light Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2001 by three-time Super Bowl Champion and former NFL New England Patriot Matt Light and his wife, Susie Light, is again teaming up with the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) for their fourth annual mentored Youth Wild Turkey Hunt this spring. is March 10th.

More Information:

Archery in the schools

Archery is fast becoming a scholastic event in RI numerous schools are offering the sport and many more are joining the list each month.  Speak to your school officials about bringing the sport to your schools – they are recruiting to add to the 9!  More information:

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College ComPetitive Shooting

Another rapidly growing nationwide sport is College shooting teams.  This year, the University of Rhode Island formed a competitive shooting team with currently 51 members. The Ram Shooters are looking to enter NCAA shooting events in the future. Many of the current Ram’s team are former members of the Ocean State Junior Rifle Association.  Good luck to the URI shooters on their future endeavors!

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Geese at T.F. Green

The last 2 years I contacted the RI Airport Corporation and RI Speaker of the House, Joe Sherkachi, regarding Canadian Geese in the flight path at TF Green Airport. Joe initially contacted the airport. Last year he had the airport company contact me. The airport company gave me some nonsense that they follow FAA guidelines and were FAA inspected and passed.  A typical governmental reply. My reply to them was “tell that to the geese at the south end of the North South runway”.  Here it is another year and again the Geese are back. Sooner or later an accident may result as there are 35 geese in the picture, I took the other day. The photograph location is again at the south end of the North South runway.  I don’t want an A300 or Boeing 757 in my mother’s front yard, who lives near the runway. Looks like it is up to us to ensure safety. 

Speaking with a good friend who is a Jet pilot – striking a Canadian goose in the engine is enough to bring down a twin-engine jet like an A300 or similar aircraft. “It is a situation one would want to avoid”  was stated. There you go – time to get rid of the geese and not have the problem end up going the way of the Washington Bridge debacle!

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Keep the Blaze Orange

A statement was released by the Federated alleging that DEM was considering replacing Blaze Orange during hunting seasons with optional pink or lime green. I was told that there are no proposed regulation changes by the DEM for this color change. Conferring with some others the color changes were being considered.  These color changes would be a serious problem as Blaze Orange is the National Standard.

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Some in the RI gun community are stating that the RI mag ban case was lost.  That statement is not at all correct or accurate.  The RI 2A community lost the injunction appeal only!  The actual case will continue.  Do not lose faith my fellow gun owners. In WWII America lost a few battles but ultimately won the war.

The war on RI gun owner’s rights continues:  March 13th is the anti-gun bill night in the RI House Judiciary chambers.  I recommend those who cannot attend tune in  and watch the hearings.  We’ll see if the anti-gun group has the stomach to continue it’s anti-constitutional methods on March 14th. Even my editor has seen that recent events leave us realizing in most cases we will need to be our own first responders. “When seconds count police are minutes away!”

The 10-year-old Providence girl displayed a tremendous amount courage for fending off a predator who had intentions of harm. To all the anti-gun RI politicians:  It is time for Constitutional Carry in RI.  When it is up to a 10-year-old girl to defend her life on a street right next to a bus stop and in front of open Businesses, then Providence continues its path to being what some would call a war zone, and honest law-abiding Rhode islanders have the inalienable right to defend themselves on the streets of Providence and other cities! This inalienable right was reaffirmed in the US Constitution. Good for this young lady for fighting with all she had and getting away.

Self-Defense

A local fitness facility, Providence Fit Body Boot Camp owner, Matt Espeut, did a television interview and talked about the need for everyone to know how to defend themselves. A fellow columnist here at RINewsToday, is offering a free self-defense class in Providence – Kevin Kearns, of Burn with Kearns, is the real deal, using multiple martial arts training to help the average person stay safe and know how to react in self-defense.

The Democrats are again treating the 2A as a second-class right. Illegal aliens in RI are given many more rights.  This is where 18 US Codes 241 and 242 come into play. The State House politicians were informed in 2023, and now, again, on February 27th 2024.  Legal action will be taken January 22nd 2025.

Many in Government want to totally disarm law abiding citizens but let violent illegals with criminal pasts, into the US.  Many in Government want to disarm citizens who just want to enjoy the American dream and who are working hard for a better way of life, but allow violent criminals out of jail same day or out on cashless bail. Others want to defund the police. What is the true motive of these Government officials who are disarming law abiding citizens while catering to criminals? Mark Smith has an excellent view on the subject here:

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Happenings in other states:

While Rhode Island government continues to make a mess of whatever it encounters (Washington Bridge, anyone?) The rest of the USA has their act together:

Louisiana became the 28th Constitutional Carry State and South Carolina makes the 29th Constitutional State. Any celebration by the anti-gun groups of the RI court loss will be short lived as anyone can realize where the US is headed with the Second Amendment. On January 22nd 2025 the 47th President of the US will get an email reminding him of his National Reciprocity or National Constitutional Carry statement and also National Stand your Ground.

More on self-defense – for ladies

For those ladies interested in a free self-defense class – Al Gagne of Smithfield Sportsman’s Club is offering a free self-defense class to all ladies.  The class is April 21st, a Sunday, at Smithfield Sportsman’s Club lodge. Al will teach you on how to not be a victim. For more information contact Al at okinawantemple.com

See you next week.

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Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the Sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”.  Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical. He can be reached at: [email protected]