What is a picture worth?

**Nimrod** · 03-11-2010 05:10 PM

The idea of ‘No Fishing’ means many different things to me but perhaps the most important is the idea that my children will not be able to grow up doing something they love. Fishing is something that my 7 year old son is truly passionate about and has been since he could walk.

It doesn’t matter if it is saltwater or freshwater, from a boat or from the shore, whether he is catching or not, or shopping for new tackle or reading about different fish or fishing locations, or organizing his tackle box or cleaning the boat, or sharing his fishing stories with his friends or drawing pictures and writing stories about his catch in school, he is always looking forward to the next fishing trip. Fishing teaches values and discipline to young people that will last a lifetime. It can inspire them to work hard and learn more about nature, science, math and even English and the arts. It provides a sense of accomplishment and creates respect for others and our natural resources.

I know how much fishing means to my entire family and many other children. I know the important role it played to my brother and me throughout our lives as well as the lives of our father, grandfather, and great grandfather. To take this RIGHT away from our children is simply UNAMERICAN.

If a picture is worth a thousand words then let some of these resonate through the halls of Congress. I for one could not imagine not being able to see the joy on the faces of our children doing what they love and are entitle to experience.

“Put a fishin’ pole in a kid’s hand and you have a good shot at keepin’ them out of trouble.” Anonymous

If you agree and have photos of kids enjoying fishing feel free to post them up. BTW - all of the fish in these photos were released.

Paul Hannum, Jr.
Germantown, MD