I attended the Sportsman's Outreach Advocacy Day that took place Jan. 12 in Albany.

While it was termed a "rally" for all sporting interests, there was certainly an emphasis on gun rights. That was never more obvious than when keynote speakers, primarily the National Rifle Association's CEO and executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, took the podium.

Prior to the speeches, participants had time to visit a number of vendors who represented various sportsmen and conservation groups throughout the state. Many also took the time to jump in an elevator and go knock on the office doors of state Assembly members and discuss their concerns with them.

The attendance figures were estimated to be around 1,500 to 2,000. More than 20 buses arrived from all over the state, each carrying 40 to 50 people, while many others came on their own. It was more than a respectable turnout.

"I'm amazed by the number of people who have shown up here today," said local Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, who is part of the Sportsmen's Caucus of legislators. "I've seen some of the folks from the Democrat conference here circling around today. So, I think this can be very beneficial and I hope that we can do something like this here every year."

As an upstate legislator, Sayward has always pointed out the challenges faced in educating her downstate colleagues.

"It's no secret that the majority of the people who we work with in the Legislature are from areas where they couldn't imagine having any kind of laws that allow anybody to carry a gun," she said. "Anytime we can do things like this to raise awareness to the people down here in Albany that hunting and fishing are proud traditions, is important to all of us here."

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb, who was the main sponsor of the event, took the podium first.

"Obviously we are here to honor the traditions of not only being a gun owner but hunting, fishing, ATVs, snowmobiles, all the positive things that outdoor enthusiasts provide to New York, and also it's a billion-dollar economic positive impact on our economy," said Kolb.

Other speakers included Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, S.C.O.P.E. (Shooters Committee on Political Education) President Ken Mathison, Jim Rabbia of Remington and Safari Club International's President Larry Rudolph. Rudolf touted figures that the hunting industry is one of the strongest in today's economy. He said 28,000 jobs in New York are supported by sportsmen's dollars.

LaPierre focused primarily on gun crime and what he feels is New York's lack of ability to enforce it. "Every time there's a crime in the news they (politicians) run to the cameras and blame your Second Amendment rights as the cause of violent crime," said LaPierre. "They should be asking why New York leads the nation both in releasing inmates from prison and then having them put back in prison?"

Most law-abiding gun owners feel that true criminals don't obey the current laws and are not punished harshly enough.

LaPierre agreed, saying, "In 2007 the New York state imprisonment rate was 28 percent lower than the national average, at the same time the parole rate is above the national average. According to the department of justice in 2008 New York reduced its prison population more than any state in the country."

Dan Ladd is the author of "Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks," outdoors editor for the Glens Falls Chronicle, columnist for Outdoors Magazine and contributor to New York Outdoor News. Contact him at www.adkhunter.com.