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ALERT
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This page is designed to give updates and alerts to trappers, much the same way that our current e-mail system does.
Alerts will be posted as they are received.
NEW YORK 5/25/09
Here is the latest from Dave
Miller…….. This is another
action alert----big time!!
We may have a reasonable chance
of holding this bill in
committee. There are twenty
three members--- that means that
we need 12 negative votes. The
Republican members are: Crouch;
Butler; Finch; Hawley; P.. Lopez
and Amedore. They should all be
solid. The only one that I don't
know well is Mr. Amedore. His
district office is in Amsterdam.
The Fulton Montgomery trappers
and trappers from the
Schenectady area need to contact
him..
The following Democrats should
be good but
THEY MUST BE CONTACTED BY AS
MANY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS
POSSIBLE FROM NOW TIL THE
COMMITTEE VOTES.
Ms. Destito--Oneida County
Ms.Delmonte--Niagara County
Ms. Gunther----Orange and
Sullivan Counties
Mr.Gordon----Albany, Columbia,
Greene and Rensselaer Counties
Ms. Russell---- Jefferson and
St. Lawrence Counties
Mr.Skartados---Duchess, Ulster
and Orange County.
I know nothing about this last
member but look where he is from
and my guess is we can keep him
really busy for the next few
days.
Members from Onondaga county
need to contact Mr. Stirpe,
I have little experience with
him; he should be flooded with
calls, he may be ok.
The Long island Guys need to
contact Marc Alessi,
Every available trapper, all of
us should contact Mr. Magee's
office; he is the Chair of the
Committee on Agriculture; a
really good guy and a good
friend but he is in a very tough
spot. He needs to be treated
with courtesy and messages to
him need to be very many and
very brief. In essence
"my name is --------- and I am a
licensed NYS trapper. Bill #6077
is very dangerous for trappers
and I ask that it be removed
from the committee agenda or
held in committee. Thank you."
District office staff will
likely be in the office today
there may be some staff in
Albany offices. No offices will
be open on Monday.
The committee is scheduled to
meet on Tuesday off the floor.
That means probably in the
afternoon, time unknown.
A06077 Summary:
BILL NO A06077A
SAME AS Same as S 5144
SPONSOR Rosenthal (MS)
COSPNSR Benedetto, Hoyt, Lupardo,
Maisel, Mayersohn, Millman,
Kavanagh,
Pheffer, Paulin, Titone
MLTSPNSR Bing, Boyland, Colton,
Gabryszak, Lifton, Reilly,
Sweeney, Weisenberg
Amd S353-a, Ag & Mkts L
Includes wildlife animals as
those subject to the animal
cruelty provisions of
the agriculture and markets law.
________________________________________
A06077 Actions:
BILL NO A06077A
02/24/2009 referred to
agriculture
04/21/2009 amend and recommit to
agriculture
04/21/2009 print number 6077a
________________________________________
A06077 Votes:
________________________________________
A06077 Memo:
BILL NUMBER:A6077A
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend
the agriculture and markets law,
in
relation to aggravated cruelty
to animals
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would expand
the
existing aggravated cruelty law
to cover intentional acts of
extreme
cruelty to wildlife as well as
companion animals.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Subdivision 1 of section 353-a
of the
agriculture and markets law, is
amended to expand the existing
aggra-
vated cruelty law to cover
intentional acts of extreme
cruelty to wild-
life as defined in section
11-0103 of the environmental
conservation
law. Subdivision 2 of section
353-a is amended to make it
clear that
nothing in the legislation would
interfere with sound
agricultural prac-
tices engaged in pursuant to
section 308 of the agriculture
and markets
law.
JUSTIFICATION: This legislation
will extend the coverage of the
felony
animal cruelty law to cover
wildlife. Since the passage of
the felony
animal cruelty statute, there
have been a number of egregious
cases in
which wild animals have been
captured and tortured. This bill
would
allow these cases to be
prosecuted under the felony
animal cruelty stat-
ute. It is important to note
that in no way would this change
affect the
lawful hunting or trapping
licensed by the Department of
Environmental
Conservation..
The stringent standard of proof
created by the "aggravating"
factors
contained in the felony law --
that require proof of intent to
cause
extreme physical pain or that
the conduct was especially
depraved or
sadistic -- would remain
unchanged, thereby ensuring that
only the most
heinous cases of the
mistreatment of wild animals are
treated as felony
offenses.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2005-06: A.1850A - Agriculture
2004: A.6507 - Agriculture 2003:
A.6507 -
Agriculture
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall
take effect on the ninetieth day
after it
shall have become law.
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CONNECTICUT UPDATE 5/19/09
As you may already know, Senate Bill #994 was killed
in the Judiciary Committee back in April.
SB #994 details:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=994&which_year=2009
The final Fiscal Note attached to this Bill may have been the greatest
attributer to the death of this legislation. The Fiscal Note indicates a
financial impact to the Sate of Connecticut of over
$482,000 per year.
( Fiscal Note details:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/SFN/2009SB-00994-R00-COR.htm )
Since then, Senator Meyer and Representative Roy have
added amendments to two (2) separate Bills that have basically the same verbiage
of SB #994 plus an additional amendment that has adjusted verbiage for banning
the use of the leghold and body gripping traps or adding control/restrictions
that would make the use of these trapping tools extremely difficult.
See: HB # 6552 (
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=6552&which_year=2009 )
and SB # 650 (
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=650&which_year=2009 )
Our fight is not over!
We have been working with the Connecticut NWCO organization along with our
lobbyists to battle these efforts.
We are contacting all of our Senators and Representatives requesting opposition
to both Bills.
The HSUS is waging their own campaign and requesting their followers to contact
CT Legislators to request support of these endeavors.
We are optimistic and will battle this out until the 2009 session closes on
June 3rd.
Thanks for all of your support throughout this battle.
The Connecticut Trappers Association gratefully appreciates it!
Regards,
- Herb
CONNECTICUT UNDER ATTACK (April 2009)
There is a Senate Bill working its way though the CT
Legislature (SB #994) that will ban the use of all foothold,
conibear, and all species specific traps in Connecticut.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/S/2009SB-00994-R00-SB.htm
The Connecticut Trappers Association can use your support!
Our financial reserves are getting low fighting this attack and
we can use your donations.
Please send all donations to:
CTA
PO Box 2183
Manchester, CT. 06040-2183
Thank you!
Herb Sobanski Jr.
CTA Secretary/Treasurer
10/06/08 MAINE We have been asked to intervene in
the lawsuit that has been filed in Maine. The American Wildlife Institute has
filed a lawsuit against the state saying there were too many incidental catches
of lynx last year. The USSA is the lead intervener in this lawsuit.
Donations to USSA would be appreciated. Click on
USSA to
visit their website.
7/14/08 MN
RULING (Letter from Gary Meis)
Great news fellow trappers. I just got off the phone with
MTA legal council and MTA life member Gary Leistico. The judge has handed down
his ruling in the lynx lawsuit brought upon us by several animal rights activist
groups. The judge accepted in its ENTIRETY the proposal submitted by the MN DNR.
In short we won. Trappers in MN will continue to trap as they trapped before
with the following rule changes.
1. All snares 5/64" and above but not to exceed 1/8" diameter and loops of 8-10"
side by side will be allowed. Water sets excluded.
2. 160 and 220 body grippers must meet the requirements of being set at least 3
feet off the ground or surface of the snow, and be on a leaning pole or tree no
larger than 6" in diameter. 160 and 220 body grippers may also be used on the
ground provided they are inside a cubby or box and inserted a minimum of 7" from
the front. Body grippers smaller than 160 and body grippers used as water sets
have no restrictions.
3. There are no restrictions on foothold trap sizes however they must be staked
with no drags allowed. Also the chain or cable securing the foothold trap must
be no more than 18" long and have at least two swivels.
4. No hare or rabbit may be used as bait.
5. No flagging may be used within 20 feet of the trap.
These restrictions are only in effect in the lynx range from Duluth
following Highway 53 east to the border. This is not a 100% victory but
certainly a 90% victory. Consider the animal rights groups responded to the MN
DNR's proposal that they wanted no snares, no body grippers, no flagging, or
bait and only footholds with a 4" opening as well as most of the entire northern
half of Minnesota as the lynx range. As the President of the MTA I wish to thank
the DNR for standing by us, and also my thanks go out to our excellent legal
council of Gary Leistico and his law firm of Rinke-Noonan, the FTA, NTA USSA,
SCI and interveners Cory Van Driel and Todd Roggenkamp. When I established this
team two years ago I never dreamt it would entail the grueling hours and
sleepless nights it did, but all is now worth it. Now the different court
hearings, and countless meetings attended are a small drop in the bucket. This
ruling by the judge will go a long way in our favor with the ITP also. I think I
will sleep well tonight.
Gary Meis, Pesident,
Minnesota Trappers Associatiom
3/16/08 ATTENTION ILLINOIS
Telephone Poll an Opportunity for Gun Owners to Voice Opinion
The U.S.
Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) is aiding The National Rifle Association in its
effort to defeat Cook County, Illinois ordinances that would close all gun
shops and ban and confiscate most firearms owned by citizens of the county.
A telephone poll allowing callers to voice their opinion on the ordinances
is being conducted by Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and the Cook
County Board. You do not have to be a resident to vote in the telephone
poll.
To vote in the telephone poll, please call (312) 603-6400 and select option
one when prompted. At the second prompt select option one again. When
prompted to vote on the gun control ordinance, press number 2.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and
sportsmen’s organizations that protect the rights of hunters, anglers and
trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through
public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s
Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website,
www.ussportsmen.org.
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YOUR OPPOSITION TO TWO GUN CONTROL BILLS |
A pair of gun control bills passed out of the Executive Committee
today:
The first bill,
HB4357, would prohibit the ownership most of the rifles, shotguns
and pistols now on the market.
The second bill,
HB4393 would prohibit the purchasing of more than one firearm per
month.
HERE IS WHAT YOU MUST DO TO SAVE YOUR GUNS
1. Contact your State Representative and
politely tell him/her that you are opposed to HB4357 and HB4393 and
that you would like for him/her to vote against the bill when it
comes up. If you do not know who your State Representative is, then
go to
www.ilga.gov and follow the “Legislator Lookup” link.
2. Pass this alert along to all your gun-owning friends and ask them
to follow the instructions above.
3. Please post this alert to any and all Internet bulletin boards to
which you belong.
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2/17/08
NATIONWIDE ALERT
Hello
from Heber !!
I am writing to you all to ask that you go the
link below, and sign the petition located there.
This is a petition to fight the Forest Service's
effort to close 80-90% of ALL forest service
roads - NATIONWIDE. If they are successful in
passing their "Travel Management Rule", they
will close all but the MAIN roads in and out of
the forest, and we will have no other access by
ANY Motorized vehicle. You will not be able to
Camp off these main roads - to retrieve a game
animal off road or retrieve firewood. You will
either have to carry out to the open roads by
hand, or obtain a special use permit to go off
road in a vehicle. You will also have to WALK
into the forest to find game or firewood, as the
roads we all presently use throughout the forest
will be Closed !!! Ken and I truly believe that
this will not only impact our use of the
forests, but it will impact the economy in our
community as well as others in similar areas
throughout our state (and across the US) in a
huge way!!! If people cannot come to our
mountains and use the PUBLIC forest lands as we
do now, not only will folks quit coming to
camp/hunt/fish etc, but they will find new
places to have their "summer cabins" - and go
elsewhere to recreate and build - somewhere they
have the Freedom to do what they are there
for... and full enjoyment of OUR PUBLIC LANDS!
We will lose our Freedom in the Forests and Much
More if we do not fight this proposed Rule. This
will be voted on and monies appropriated to put
into full swing before summer. If passed, by
2009 this will become a reality. What's worse,
this is only the tip of the iceberg.... they
have so many other measures they are trying to
implement to keep us out. What they do plan to
keep open, will all have a FEE tied to the use
of camping, boating, game/fuelwood retrieval
even day use areas. This is all in addition to
the permits and licenses we are already required
to pay for. If I am not mistaken, we already pay
to enjoy the public lands merely by being tax
paying citizens !
I have a lot more information on this if you
want to call or email me with questions, but for
now, please go to the link, sign the petition,
and then forward it to ALL your family and
friends to do the same.
Shelley & Ken Moore
Heber/Overgaard, AZ
http://access-advocates.org/petition_01/
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1/31/08
ATTENTION ILLINOIS SPORTSMEN
Call your
congressmen and tell them that you want them to support the changes to
the wildlife code, it will be good for trappers. We will need the help
of the Turkey Federation and some of the fishing groups to get this
passed. Do your part, because this is an IDNR Initiative.
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4632
1/27/08
General Alert
12/05/07 Indiana
Fur Takers Website
10/08/07
Report on Indiana Meeting with the NRSC
Legislative Committee
10/05/07
MAINE
UPDATE
ANOTHER SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS THE
USSA SPORTSMEN'S ALERT. CLICK ON
THEIR LINK BELOW
U. S. Sportsmen's Alliance
FOR HELP IN LOCATING YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES USE THESE LINKS
The Senate
![[House Seal]](seal.jpg)
The
House of Representatives
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