Guest guest Posted November 14, 2000 Report Share Posted November 14, 2000 Voters support animal rights measures WILDLIFE PROTECTIONS PREVAIL IN 5 RACES; HUNTING GROUPS FAIL TO CURB INITIATIVES BY PAUL ROGERS Mercury News November 13, 2000 http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/nation/docs/hunting13.htm Animal rights groups bested hunters this year at ballot boxes across the United States. Of the eight initiatives affecting various forms of hunting or trapping, animal rights groups won five races. " Americans obviously believe in a fundamental way that animals deserve humane and fair treatment, " said Wayne Pacelle, senior vice president of the Humane Society of the United States, based in Washington, D.C. Although they took comfort in some victories, hunting rights groups lost two far-reaching efforts that would have banned wildlife initiatives in Alaska and required two-thirds approval of all wildlife initiatives in Arizona. " Regretfully, voters in these states did not realize the benefits of restricting wildlife-related ballot initiatives, " said Walter Pidgeon, president of the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America, based in Columbus, Ohio. " As it stands, sportsmen must continue to worry about outsiders coming into their states and manipulating wildlife management via the ballot box. " Twenty-four states allow residents to place measures on the statewide ballot for a public vote. In the past decade, animal rights groups, led by the Humane Society, have chipped away at various hunting practices -- from bans on mountain lion hunting and leg-hold traps in California to bans on bearbaiting in other states. Since 1977, there have been at least 30 ballot measures on hunting nationwide. Of those, animal rights groups have won 16 and hunting groups have won 14. In addition to the two measures in Alaska and Arizona on future wildlife initiatives, the following were this year's victories for animal rights groups: - In Montana, voters narrowly approved a measure by 52-48 percent to ban new game farm licenses and " canned hunts " of elk and other big game at private ranches. Some hunting groups opposed the measure; others supported it. - In Washington state, voters approved by 55-45 percent an initiative to ban leg-hold traps. - In Alaska, voters approved by 53-47 percent a measure to ban the shooting of wolves from airplanes. But hunters did not come away empty handed: - In Oregon, voters rejected a measure to ban the use of steel-jawed leg-hold traps by 61-39 percent. - In North Dakota, voters overwhelmingly approved by 80-20 percent a largely symbolic measure to add new language to the state constitution " recognizing the value of hunting to be forever preserved. " - In Virginia, voters approved a similar initiative by 61-39 percent that amends the Virginia Constitution to establish a `right to hunt, fish and harvest game. " -- Free email services provided by http://www.goodkarmacafe.com Powered by Outblaze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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