FYI…
Friends & Fellow Sportsmen/women,
The Conservation Coalition in Michigan is currently pushing some legislation that needs our support. If we can get these bills passed it will give us SERIOUSLY NEEDED protection from the animal rights organizations. As we've recently learned (again) they can push their agenda by spending millions of dollars to put proposals and referendums on the ballot and running TV commercials to sway popular vote against hunting.
In short, the bills would require 3 things that aren't currently needed to get an issue on the ballot:
1- A ballot proposal would have to originate by a registered voter in Michigan. No more out of state organizations buying ballot proposals (Humane Society & PETA).
2- It would require petition signatures to be gathered from around the state (3/4 of the House districts). No more of getting half a million Detroit residents to sign a petition deciding what happens everywhere else.
3- It would help conservation organizations get proposals on the ballot because our volunteers are from all over the state, making us more likely to be successful.
It would also help keep popular opinion out of the business of wildlife management. I'm confident we all agree that wildlife management should be left to professionals using sound science.
I know many of you don't like politics, and some of you could care less about losing the dove proposal, but make no mistake- other outdoor pursuits are in danger. This isn't a scare tactic- it's a fact. Humane Society has openly stated that Michigan is a target state- they've also stated that two of their major objectives are to ban bow hunting and trapping nationwide. If you want to check that fact simply browse their website- http://www.hsus.org
This legislation is in its infancy and it's going to be a long battle to make it law- but it's worth the fight. Please take the time to contact the members of this committee and your representative. You don't need an elaborate speech or letter- you can simply state that you support Senate bills 1086 & 1087. Grassroots get's bills passed. Your calls & letters are heard.
To make this easy here is the link to the Michigan Senate. To find senators (by name or by address) simply click on the "Find Your Senator" link on the left hand side. www.http://senate.michigan.gov/
Yours in conservation
Chris Kettler
Secretary, Wetlands Foundation of West Michigan
MUCC Rep, Michigan Trappers Association
Michigan Sportsman
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett