In the words of a well-known song,”everyone’s talking about the lady in red,” and for good reason. After a meeting with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Susan Collins earlier this week I’m convinced Maine sportsmen will take the right fork in the trail by voting for her come November. Simply put, when it comes to protecting Second Amendment rights and the traditional outdoors recreations of this state, the Caribou native is as solid as Maine granite.

It’s no secret that, for the most part, The County’s “native stock” becomes addicted to the outdoors early on. Therefore, Collins’ positive attitudes toward guns, hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, canoeing, snowmobiling and such weren’t surprising.

More than surprising, however, were her awareness and understanding of the many social and political issues confronting sportsmen. Testimony to that was her recent endorsement by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine’s Political Action Committee.

“It was obvious after the interview Susan stands with us 100 percent,” said SAM’s Executive Director George Smith. The organization has serious concerns about Democratic Senate candidate Joe Brennan’s positions on firearms issues, and justifiably so.

When gun control became the topic of discussion during our meeting, Collins immediately said, “Why should people who have owned guns all their lives without committing crimes be penalized for the acts of criminals? There were guns in practically every house in Caribou when I grew up and there are today. But those guns are used only for sporting purposes.”

Referring to President Clinton and anti-gun members of Congress, she said, “It’s so obvious. Their goal is to ban all firearms.” Amen. As an aside, there is a total ban on ownership of handguns in Washington D.C. Yet the district has the highest crime rate in the country, including, of course, homicides and assaults involving handguns. ‘Nuff said.

The frontrunner in the Senate race surprised me again when, in discussing her support of the NRA’s fight to repeal the ban on military assault weapons, she explained that, in some cases, the difference between assault weapons and sporting rifles is the bayonet lugs and flash suppressors on the military models.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said, alluding to the fact that if the military rifles are banned, sporting rifles will be next. Obviously, the woman doesn’t shudder at the sight of a gun, or a deer hanging in a hunter’s backyard. And if you think that isn’t a plus for Maine sportsmen then you probably think RESTORE: The North Woods is a good idea.

Collins’ disdain for RESTORE’s goals – establishment of a 3-million acre national park in Maine and restoration of wolves – was undisguised when she said, “I am adamantly opposed to them.”

Regarding the Green Party’s attempt to ban clear cutting via referendum on the November ballot, she was equally emphatic in expressing her position: “I’m totally against it. The impact to the state’s economy would be disastrous.” She was circumspect, however, in agreeing that forestry practices required restrictive measures and monitoring.

Mention of the word “economy” prompted me to ask Collins to clarify her declared top priority regarding a seat in the U.S. Senate: to create more business in Maine. Her answer was spontaneous – no waffling or weighing of words – and straightforward: “My focus is on expanding established small Maine businesses, creating more jobs for Maine people and marketing Maine products. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be fishing for new businesses and if any are landed they won’t be released,” she added in sportsmen’s parlance.

In the small-business scenario, Collins’ credentials are as impressive as a County potato field. Formerly, she was state commissioner of business regulation, New England regional chief of the Federal Small Business Administration and, most recently, executive director of Husson College’s Center For Family Business.

For sure, the Senate candidate’s insights to fish and game issues resulted from her ability and willingness to listen. Accordingly, when we talked about Atlantic salmon conservation and restoration, deer yards (winter shelter), the hatchery bond issue, sportsman-landowner relations, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s financial shortfall and other matters important to Maine sportsmen, she listened intently, obviously making mental notes.

No stranger to banking the house for winter and baked bean suppers and other social activities held in grange halls and church basements, Susan Collins’ smile was as wide as the Aroostook River when our conversation shifted to the value of community hereabouts. “It’s so important,” she said. “Our quality of life and traditions and cultures are so distinctly Maine.”

In counting the blessings of her County background, Collins reminisced about picking potatoes, family bonding, and the profound appreciation for nature and wildlife she developed at her family’s camp on Madawaska Lake.

“I learned to paddle a canoe there,” she said, “and that’s still one of my favorite recreations.” The more we talked the more obvious it became that the Maine difference between Susan Collins and Joe Brennan was Caribou and Portland. Take your pick.

It was, of course, a pleasure and a privilege to talk with the woman whose tracks are leading straight to the U.S. Senate. Without question, she exemplifies the character, integrity, work ethic and independence for which Mainers are admired, envied and respected across this country. And in applying those qualities to protecting Second Amendment rights and issues confronting sportsmen, I’m sure the lady in red will be as solid as Maine granite.