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DOVE BAN DROPPED, BEAR-DOG BAN KILLED -- Jim Matthews column-ONS 9apr03
Dove ban withdrawn, dog-bear hunting ban defeated in committee
Two bills that would have decisively whittled away at hunting rights in California have been defeated because of overwhelming opposition by sportsmen throughout the state.
Assemblyman Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) withdrew his bill, AB1190, which would have banned the hunting of doves in California late last week, and AB 342 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), which would have banned the use of dogs in hunting bears and bobcats, was defeated on a 10-4 vote in committee Tuesday this week.
That's the good news. While AB 342 could be reconsidered, that isn't likely to happen due to the overwhelming committee vote.
The bad news is that the people behind this legislation aren't going away. Joe Nation's staff said they are going to look into the "high crippling rate" and the "use of lead shot."
They are placating the animal rights people on his staff and those that were behind the dove hunting ban by saying they're going to continue to go after hunters, but they're able to deflect hunter's complaints by saying they dropped the bill after listening to their concerns.
What this means is that these anti-hunters are going to continue to meddle in the realm of game management and science, neither of which they know anything about, nor care to know about. This is a direct attach on hunters. We need to stay vigilant for the next round of attacks on hunting, which many of us fear will take the form of a proposition, which is the only way we've lost ground in the past.
Hunters, however, should be proud that they were able to hammer back this misguided legislation. Word from legislators throughout the state was that they were inundated with phone calls, e-mail, faxes, and letters from hunters howling about this bill. All of that pressure eventually came to bear on Nation who withdrew his bill last week and on those members of the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee who voted down Koretz' bill Tuesday. Those of you who took the time to write and call, need to make one more call, and that is to say thank-you to the legislators who helped sportsmen defeat these two bills.
Dove ban withdrawn, dog-bear hunting ban defeated in committee
Two bills that would have decisively whittled away at hunting rights in California have been defeated because of overwhelming opposition by sportsmen throughout the state.
Assemblyman Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) withdrew his bill, AB1190, which would have banned the hunting of doves in California late last week, and AB 342 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), which would have banned the use of dogs in hunting bears and bobcats, was defeated on a 10-4 vote in committee Tuesday this week.
That's the good news. While AB 342 could be reconsidered, that isn't likely to happen due to the overwhelming committee vote.
The bad news is that the people behind this legislation aren't going away. Joe Nation's staff said they are going to look into the "high crippling rate" and the "use of lead shot."
They are placating the animal rights people on his staff and those that were behind the dove hunting ban by saying they're going to continue to go after hunters, but they're able to deflect hunter's complaints by saying they dropped the bill after listening to their concerns.
What this means is that these anti-hunters are going to continue to meddle in the realm of game management and science, neither of which they know anything about, nor care to know about. This is a direct attach on hunters. We need to stay vigilant for the next round of attacks on hunting, which many of us fear will take the form of a proposition, which is the only way we've lost ground in the past.
Hunters, however, should be proud that they were able to hammer back this misguided legislation. Word from legislators throughout the state was that they were inundated with phone calls, e-mail, faxes, and letters from hunters howling about this bill. All of that pressure eventually came to bear on Nation who withdrew his bill last week and on those members of the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee who voted down Koretz' bill Tuesday. Those of you who took the time to write and call, need to make one more call, and that is to say thank-you to the legislators who helped sportsmen defeat these two bills.
