I understand that when it comes time for political campaigns and advertisements, the preferred method is to try and spin a position to have the most appeal to the greatest number of voters. Sometimes, this involves making your opponent look like a monster by twisting what your opponent has said and done, taking it out of context, and not telling the whole story. There are the half-truths and the convenient lack of facts included. We, the voters, are supposed to wade through the muck and attempt to figure out the details - but the politicians and the special interest groups are hoping that we won't, and that we'll just take their words for it.

Then there are the 527 groups. You may recall the controversy last election cycle with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth - these were soldiers who served with John Kerry or who knew of John Kerry and questioned his heroism during the Vietnam conflict. Some of us believed what they said, others doubted it. However, the one thing that stood true was that the members of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth all served on swift boats - the only debate was their recollection of facts and events forty years ago.

The gun grabbers have been trying a few new tactics over the years. The last big deal was the Million Mom March. If you recall, they paraded Rosie O'Donnell on the podium, let her spew her vitriol, and cheered. She was embraced by the media while she was screaming about how she hated guns and that all guns should be banned. What Rosie failed to tell the throngs of her admirers, however, is that it is okay for her to have armed security guards with her 24/7. After all, she has a right to defend herself. We The People, the common folk, aren't extended that same courtesy.

But, Rosie and the coordinators of the Million Mom March were at least truthful to the American people as to their motives - the purpose was to call for more gun control.

Then there's Tom Mauser, father of slain Columbine student Daniel Mauser. Mr. Mauser travels around this country and lobbies state legislatures and our Congress to pass more and more gun control. Mr. Mauser would like for you to believe that every single gun control consideration ever conceived is "reasonable" and "common sense" no matter how far it tramples on the Second Amendment. While I find Mr. Mauser's positions on my personal rights to be offensive at best, I at least can understand where his anger is seeded.

But, Mr. Mauser does not hide his true intentions. His purpose for traveling around this country is to call for more gun control (reasonable or not).

The truly sinister side of the gun grabbers has reared its head this election season. You may have heard about this wonderful, new group of sportsmen. It is called the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA). This group puts up an attractive website ( http://www.huntersandshooters.com) and proclaims that it has a Mission of Trust. That Mission of Trust states, AHSA vigorously defends the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, promotes safe and responsible gun use, and supports reasonable public policies, so that all Americans can enjoy the benefits of this crucial and historic liberty. The emphasis added is mine.

If you explore the AHSA's website, you'll find plenty of great articles demonstrating this group's dedication to preserving the Second Amendment. This sounds like a wonderful group, doesn't it? What a great group to join!

But, wait, there's more. Look at the people who run the AHSA and sit on the Board of Directors.

Executive Director Bob Ricker is a lawyer and a lobbyist. At one point, he used to be a pro-gun rights advocate. However, during the Clinton Administration, Ricker testified before court that gun manufacturers were irresponsible and negligent in the manufacture of firearms and he supported Clinton's war on guns.

Member of the board and president of the AHSA is Ray Schoenke. Guess what? Mr. Schoenke also happens to be a fan favorite of Handgun Control, Inc. (now known as the Brady Campaign) and has been recognized as a friend and benefactor at its annual meetings.

Fellow member of the board and president of the AHSA Foundation John Rosenthal just happens to be the founder and leader of the anti-gun rights group Stop Handgun Violence as well as sitting on the Board of Directors for the Brady Campaign.

If you dig deeper, you discover that member of the board Joe Vince is the current president of Crime Gun Solutions. You're probably wondering what Crime Gun Solutions is. If you do some very minor research, you'll discover that the group acts as a consultant for the Brady Campaign.

After you've had a moment to digest this, I'll invite you to go back and re-read the AHSA Mission of Trust statement.

The AHSA is a lobbying group. The AHSA website makes that pretty clear. What is unclear, however, is the true mission of the AHSA. Read that Mission of Trust statement once more.

Tom Mauser and Rosie O'Donnell make their anti-gun agenda clear. I can at least respect that. But, to form a lobbying group and to disguise it as pro-Second Amendment, attempting to attract (fool) gun owners into joining and giving the group clout and withholding the true agenda of the group is not merely deceit.

It is pure, unadulterated evil.

There are great, wonderful gun-rights advocacy groups to join, and in my next article, I'll provide a list of some great ones. The American Hunters and Shooters Association is not one of them.