slee

I hope I got your attention. Please read the following and respond to your Senators ASAP.

Legislation is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee that could seriously jeopardize game programs across the country by federalizing hunting laws. Senate Bill 1655 would put a “one size fits all” policy on wildlife management activities that ignores the diverse hunting culture in this country. Sportsmen across the nation need to contact their U.S. Senators in opposition to this bill.



Senate Bill 1655 purports to ban the hunting of exotic animals in enclosures. Titled the Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act, it also allows the federal government to define “fair chase,” ignoring the hunting culture, as it exists in different states. It opens the door for the federal government to begin regulating hunting and fishing. Until now, it only intervened on wildlife issues that concerned endangered or migratory species.



For example, congressmen from California and Massachusetts would have a voice in the management of wildlife in South Dakota or Tennessee. This is not the duty of Congress - it is the responsibility of state wildlife agencies, which exist to manage wildlife in their own states.



Senate Bill 1655 was originally written to ban all hunting in enclosures, but the bill’s sponsors could not muster support for legislation that would ban hunting on some of the largest ranches in the country. It was scaled back, and now applies only to exotic mammals, such as lions. However, if Senate Bill 1655 passes, it would only take an amendment to apply the ban to all hunting behind fences.



Senate Bill 1655 would give anti-hunters an opportunity to concentrate their huge financial warchests at one body, the U.S. Congress, rather than having to take their cases to each state legislature.



The anti’s are relying on sportsmen to concentrate on the notion that the bill will simply ban hunting of exotic animals within enclosures. They hope that hunters will overlook the dangers Senate Bill 1655 presents to the future of hunting. Senate Bill 1655 must be defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee.



The bill is scheduled to come to a vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early October.



Call both of your U.S. Senators today! Contact them by calling 202-224-3121 and asking to be connected to their offices or by going to the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org. Ask each of your senators to vote against Senate Bill 1655 because it undermines wildlife conservation across the country. Also, if you are a resident of any of the states below, contact your member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask him or her to vote against Senate Bill 1655 because it is vague and would adversely affect sportsmen.



The members are:



Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 202-224-4242

Chairman

Joseph Biden (D-DE) 202-224-5042

Sam Brownback (R-KS) 202-224-6521

Maria Cantwell (D-WA) 202-224-3441

Mike DeWine (R-OH) 202-224-2315

Richard Durbin (D-IL) 202-224-2152

John Edwards (D-NC) 202-224-3154

Russell Feingold (D-WI) 202-224-5323

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 202-224-3841

Charles Grassley (R-IA) 202-224-3744

Orrin Hatch (R-UT) 202-224-5251

Edward Kennedy (D-MA) 202-224-4543

Herb Kohl (D-WI) 202-224-5653

Jon Kyl (R-AZ) 202-224-4521

Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 202-224-2541

Charles Schumer (D-NY) 202-224-6542

Jeff Sessions (R-AL) 202-224-4124

Arlen Specter (R-PA) 202-224-4254

Strom Thurmond (R-SC) 202-224-5972

WANWTF

I've read that and responded - Don't think I can expect much from Cantwell though. This not only would be a foot in the door for the anti-hunting groups, but they would be in the house with only a hand out the door. Instead of targeting each state individually, they can focus their monies at one point of attack if this is passed. Lord help us all if this junk becomes law.

http://www.wanwtf.org

Robb92

I sure hope that this doesn't pass, I'll give her a shout or a nice e-mail.

slee

WANWTF, you may be right about Cantwell. But we may need to remind her that it took a lengthy vote counting process for her to draw her current paycheck. She may come out on the losing end next time if she ignores us on this one. I'll hold out for those kinds of letters until I find out something on her position. You can never know for sure, but this would definitely be BAD for us.

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

BlackLab

Thanks for the heads up slee and the link.
Not to sound ignant. But any help with composing a letter would be apreciated.
Gun controll is using both hands!!!

Edited by - Blacklab on 10/02/2002 12:30:24

slee

Blacklab, it is really simple. Just make sure you state your position in the Subject section. Vote No on SB 1655 was my subject. Try to be as friendly as you can. Thank them for the service they do, and keep it short and sweet. I touched on the highlights of the bill, and also touched on the potential for problems. If you read through the post that I put up, take the things that really chap your arse and let her know. State that while you understand the bill is directed at exotic hunts in enclosures, it could be loosely interpreted to affect far more than exotic hunts and what falls under the definition of an enclosure. The fact that it could potentially take control of wildlife management out of the hands of the states, and make it easy for special interests to have negative influences on wildlife and conservation practices is a big issue. Make it clear that we want the control to remain in our state not Washington, DC. Remember, they work for us.

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

BlackLab

Okay fellas tell me what ya think.

This letter is with great concern to Senate Bill 1655. Which purports to ban the hunting of exotic animals in closed areas. It would also allow the federal government to define "fair chase". This would put a one size fits all policy on wildlife and ignore the hunting culture and habitats of Washington State as it exist today. Every state has it's own recipe to run it's wildlife, and having the federal government run it as a mix bag is not in the states best interest. Lets let Washington State biologist and it's game department do it's job for Washington State.I must ask you to vote no on Bill 1655.

Sincerely
Michael J Mullins

Gun controll is using both hands!!!

slee

See, that didn't hurt a bit. Good job!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hunt hard, live right, and tell your kids you love 'em!

mnmkid

I did some addt'l research on this bill. ON THE RECORD Co-sponsors of this bill read like a who's Who of liberal lunatic tree hugging PETA supporting democrats.
Your Mission: Pick your target from the list below, and then take aim. ready... Fire off that email and get on that phone now. Remember lots of seats up for filling in the November elections. Do you want these loonies running your hunting rights?? Neither do I... so why would you want them to run the country? Vote the dumb bums out!

Co-sponsors of Senate Bill 1655 as found on http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?r107:@OR+(+@1(S.+1655)++)

Biden (D)DE
Cantwell (D)WA
Corzine (D)NJ
Durbin (D)IL
Feinstein (D)CA
Feingold (D)WI
Kennedy (D)MA
Kohl (D)WI
Levin (D)MI
Mikulski (D)MD
Murray (D)WA
Schumer (D)NY
Torricelli (D)NJ

Much like Hunting, Voting is a right for all Americans.
Do your part to save an American way of life!
Vote informed, and Vote your concience!
And may God Bless Charlton Heston!

Blackhawk357

Doesn't look good for stopping it in committee. Hell, 8 members of the committee are co-sponsors. You Wisconson hunters should REALLY be up in arms over this, BOTH of your Senators are co-sponsors. I'm somewhat suprised that our Max Bacus isn't on the list (oh, I forgot. He's up for election this year) It will be interesting to see how he votes on the floor.

Blackhawk

-----Every day is a great day in Eastern Montana-----