Jeep anti-hunting ad

[BuKuBass]

Check it out at the hunting forum and register your protest via the petition. Thank you, Jay

[Jennie@ifish]

This, sent in by PDX Kevin:
Jeep Takes Cheap Shot at American Sportsmen Through Anti-Hunting Ad- (01/08)
National

DaimlerChrysler, maker of the popular Jeep line of vehicles, has turned its back on American sportsmen by launching an advertising campaign that glorifies anti-hunters and vilifies hunters.
In Jeep’s ‘Deer Hunter’ commercial, a man drives a Jeep through a wooded site with two deer tied on top of the vehicle. As the Jeep drives by, hunters in camouflage are shown in the woods, in close proximity to each other and the road, admiring the man’s deer. The driver of the Jeep then crosses the road to a location that shows a “No Hunting” sign. The Jeep stops, the man gets out and releases the deer that appeared to be dead. The driver tells the deer they are safe and the deer bound away. In the background, other Jeep owners are shown doing the same thing.

“Although this message was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, it won’t be taken that way by the 40 million sportsmen across America,” said WLFA President Bud Pidgeon. “This ad gives the distinct impression that people who ‘save’ wildlife from hunters – and drive Jeeps – are the good guys. In reality, the good guys are American sportsmen. They are our nation’s number one conservationists and they are the reason that America’s wildlife is flourishing.”

When WLFA officials contacted Jeep, its spokesperson, Diane Jackson, was unwilling to acknowledge the insulting message portrayed in its commercial. She said that the ad was creative and would continue to run nationally.

Apparently, Jeep is not yet listening to its customers. A Jeep employee reported that calls protesting the commercial were swamping its switchboard.

“Sportsmen need to send DaimlerChrysler and Jeep a strong message that its anti-hunting sentiments are not appreciated,” responded Pidgeon. “As an owner of a vehicle manufactured by this company, I intend to personally communicate my strong resentment about the direction this company has taken. I will encourage my friends and colleagues to do the same.”

Sportsmen can express their dissatisfaction by contacting DaimlerChrysler at (248) 512-2992 or by faxing (248) 512-1760. They can also write DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche at P.O. Box 218004, Auburn Hills, Michigan, 48321-8004.

[Net Boy]

I have not seen the ad yet, although it does sound funny. Relax a little guys. Why the uproar?

[garyk]

Gee, for supposedly rugged outdoorsman they seem to have pretty thin skins.

Where's the protests about the ads showing 4wd's thrashing through streams, or parked on river banks?

Lighten up.

[DUCKY]

hey net boy, i used to feel like you. i tried to buy a new shotgun for myself this christmas. it took 3 days to get approved! hell, i didn't even know you needed a background check for a hunting rifle or shotgun! i have not even had a traffic ticket in 3 years, and somehow i warranted further investigation. if we keep being passive, pretty soon you will have to register your sons daisy!

[Bubzilla]

Net Boy,

Surely your post was made in jest!? I'm positive that nobody would be completely unaware of the current, and growing, problem that sporsmen, both hunters and anglers, have with public perception. It's not just card-carrying PETA members that don't appreciate hunting and fishing as legitimate recreation, either. And it's not just radicals who would support eliminating your ability to do so.

The advertisement in question simply illustrates what has become a common opinion: sportsmen are something nature must be protected from. Hunting and fishing have become not only politically incorrect to many, but culturally backwards as well. That's a big problem. The Jeep ad in question only serves to reinforce these perceptions.

[Lured In]

It's not only not funny, it is clearly a stab at hunters. Now I realize that many who fish do not hunt. Hunting not only suffers from the game/fish management issue fishing does, but also legitamate hunters come under HEAVY scrutiny for buying and using firearms in a sport they love.

Imagine for a moment you are on a multiday fishing trip and only brought one rod. (I know that is a serious stretch for any of us, but humor me.) For some reason your rod or reel go teets up and you head to the local sporting goods store to pick up a new one. After picking out your new toy, you then fill out a 1 page document to inlcude your address, drivers license and social security number among other things. The person behind the counter calls a federal number to give them the info and you wait. The you wait some more. Then they come back and tell you that they are unable to sell you your reel today because you match a profile set up in the system. They tell you call later and see if it was approved. You call later and they tell you to try tomorrow. The next day you try again and they say wait another day. Two days later you are finally cleared and you can now buy your reel. Congratulations. Could you imaging doing this every time you wanted a new rod or reel to slay the fishy's with?

Of the 3 firearms firearms I have purchased in the last few years, the shortest I have had to wait is 24 hours the longest was 48. Now keep in mind another guy can walk into the same store at the same time and walk out with his new hunting rifle.

Probably more than you wanted to know, but it may shed some light on why some of us are so upset. Keep in mind Jeep's next ad may have PETA trucking salmon and steelhead around fisherman on the river straight up to the hatchery.

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Lured In ]</p>

[BuKuBass]

Net Boy and garyk: I too appreciate satire but I'm afraid of a "Bambi" reaction from those who don't understand the role that hunters play in conservation. As for 4X4's in and next to rivers; most have a disclaimer stating that no lands were harmed during fiming.
More than 3,000 people have signed the petition in the past 18 hours; won't you join them? Go toweb page (http://www.petitiononline.com/jeepcomm/)
Check out the comments left by others.
Thank you, Jay

[FearNoEvil]

hey lured in.. how many guys have killed someone with a fishing reel? yeah i dont think anyone has died from one.. so i strongly feel its important to go through the waiting process for a firearm..

!!!!

[Lured In]

Prime I don't argue the waiting process. The comments of lighten up and "thinned skinned" seem to lack a level of understanding regarding the constant barrage on hunters.

[Firedog]

This is another attack on hunting and these businesses need to know that us as hunters and outdoors people wont tolerate it. It may by "funny" to some but the under laying meaning is there. We shouldnt take this lightly. Sign the Petition if you support hunting and fishing. I do disagree with waiting periods for the purcahse but they are something we have to deal with now!

[Bubzilla]

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: Bubzilla ]</p>

[JPSFISHY]

Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. I've not only signed, I've demanded all I know to sign, and will followup. E-mails going out now. I hade a cj5 flat fender when I was in high school. I thought JEEP was American. Identify all trators!!

[Firedog]

Bubzilla, what did you do with your post, I thought you made a great point with that one?

[Damien]

I think that you have to stand up to something like this even if it might seem small. That is how the "tree huggers" worm there opions onto others. They start small and work there way up. If we as responsible sportsmen and sportswomen don't stand up things do and have gotten out of hand. Just my 2 cents.

[bajaspecial]

Looked around the net to see if I could find the video...all I found was this...

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011113/detu011_1.html


Personally I think more of our attention should be directed to more worthy causes, such as our government once again rejecting the will of the people...

http://www.kgw.com/kgwnews/story.html?StoryID=34742

...just as they have done with assisted suicide and medical marajuana, and others I don't know about , since I haven't really started paying attention to politics since the mid 90's (now that I'm not fishin as much!)

I could care less what Jeep does in their commercials...talking about them just gets their name in the spotlight more. Besides, have you seen that new Liberty? You wouldn't catch me driving one of those...much less hunting in one!

[BuKuBass]

C'mon people; this is important!
Read and show your disapproval by signing the
petition.
web page (http://www.petitiononline.com/jeepcomm)

I've put it on five other national forums; let's spread the word.

Thank you, Jay

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: BuKuBass ]</p>

[BuKuBass]

Just bringing this to the top so that weekenders can have a shot. Over 6,000 have signed in the past two days; and read some of the comments.web page (http://www.petitiononline.com/jeepcomm/)
Thanks, Jay