Help Put an End to the Use of Elephants in Traveling Shows and Circuses

[Guest guest]

H.R. 2929, the Captive Elephant Accident Prevention Act, is presently before

the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Crime. A hearing is

expected to be held within the next few months. Please write or call members

of the subcommittee and urge them to move H.R. 2929 out of the subcommittee

to a vote on the House floor.

 

As you may remember, Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced the Captive

Elephant Accident Prevention Act of 1999 (H.R. 2929) to address safety risks

elephants pose to animal handlers and the public. If passed, this bill will

prohibit the use of elephants in traveling shows, circuses, and as rides and

impose civil and criminal penalties on violators of the Act.

 

During the past year, at least four incidents have occurred involving

captive elephants resulting in one death and three individuals seriously

injured. The most recent incident occurred on May 15, 1999 where a

23-year-old circus worker was killed by an elephant backstage between

performances. The elephant lifted its leg and kicked the worker in the head.

Moreover, in the past decade there have been 43 people killed worldwide and

100 people seriously injured due to performing elephants.

 

Here are some points you may wish to make to the subcommittee members:

 

In the past decade, there have been 43 people killed worldwide and over 100

people seriously injured by performing elephants held in captivity.

Several municipalities across the country have banned animal acts due to

public safety acts including: Hollywood, FL; Lauderdale Lakes, FL; Quincy,

MA; and Revere, MA.

Performing elephants spend up to 95% of their lives being chained by both

legs, unable to freely move around. As such, it should not be a surprise

that elephants lash out and pose a danger to any one in the elephant's

vicinity.

From 1994 to 1999, at least 29 elephants have died from premature or

unnatural deaths.

The members of the Subcommittee on Crime are listed below. Please write or

call the Chair of the subcommittee and request that H.R. 2929 receive a

hearing and urge him to pass the bill out of the subcommittee as soon as

possible. In addition, if your Representative is on the list please write or

call him/her as well.

 

Bill McCollum (R-8th FL) - Chair

202-225-2176

Fax 202-225-0999

 

Steve Chabot (R-1st OH)

202-225-2216

Fax 202-225-3012

 

Marty Meehan (D-5th MA)

202-225-3411

Fax 202-226-0771

 

Bob Barr (R-7th GA)

202-225-2931

Fax 202-225-2944

 

Steven Rothman (D-9th NJ)

202-225-5061

Fax 202-225-5851

 

George Gekas (R-17th PA)

202-225-4315

Fax 202-225-8440

 

Sheila Jackson Lee (D-18th TX)

202-225-3816

Fax 202-225-3317

 

Howard Coble (R-6th NC)

202-225-3065

Fax 202-225-8611

 

Anthony Weiner (D-9th NY)

202-225-6616

Fax 202-226-7253

 

Lamar Smith (R-21st TX)

202-225-4236

Fax 202-225-8628

 

Bobby Scott (D-3rd VA)

202-225-8351

Fax 202-225-8354

 

Charles Canady (R-12th FL)

202-225-1252

Fax 202-225-2279

 

Asa Hutchinson (R-3rd AR)

202-225-4301

Fax 202-225-5713

 

Mail your letters to:

 

The Honorable _______________

House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

For more information contact Nicole Paquette at API or visit our Circus

Campaign link for more information.

 

 

______________________

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