THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 13, 1997 TAG: 9701130048
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MEREDITH COHN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
The man behind the the effort to persuade the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to loosen its regulations, Jerry F. Bass Sr., has a history of going up against authority.
Bass was convicted in Suffolk District Court in June of four charges stemming from an illegal deer shooting on private property. Bass, who says he only moved the deer and did not kill it, is appealing the decision in Circuit Court.
He will be arraigned in Suffolk in January on charges that he cursed and abused a state game officer and was in possession of marijuana. During the past few years, other charges against him have been dismissed. Those include killing deer illegally, possessing a loaded high-powered firearm and possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
He was convicted in January 1994 and paid a $50 fine for cursing and abusing a state game warden. In December 1993, in federal District Court, charges of disorderly conduct and simple assault were dismissed in an incident at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where he used to work. He was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon. He lost an appeal on that charge and paid a $250 fine and spent five days in jail.
All the charges are misdemeanors, and Bass attributes them to overzealous law enforcement officials who don't like his tendency to be outspoken on hunters' and Second Amendment rights.
Bass claims to have 300 to 400 hunters and others signed onto a petition he intends to send to the refuge. It asks that rules be changed to accommodate more hunting opportunities, and criticizes swamp management for not maintaining roads and for allowing water to flood the refuge and neighboring private property.
Bass wants a longer deer season, permission to shoot bear and small game, and better maintenance of roads, among other things, in the swamp, which covers 107,000 acres.
For some local hunters, Bass' record is an issue, even if they agree with his requests for expanded access to the refuge. But others say Bass, a descendant of Nansemond Indians and a lifelong Suffolk resident, makes a good leader and will help them get what they want.
``I've known Jerry Bass all of my life, and he has a certain way of saying things,'' said Doug Green, a bow hunter. ``I understand others not wanting to join him for that reason, but when he's telling you the truth, you have to believe him.''
Members of the Dismal Swamp Awareness Association, a group started by Bass to win expanded rights in the refuge, said no one else was willing to lead.
``He's no role model,'' said P.J. Bradshaw, president of the Bass Hunt Club and an association board member. ``But without Jerry Bass, who is going to do this? Everyone else is just sitting around waiting for the swamp to be gone.''
Bass said he's not concerned with his ``enemies,'' and will continue to pursue his goals.
``I try to get along with people, but I stand up for what I believe in,'' he said. ``I'm not afraid to throw words or punches.''