BOYS, GIRLS BARRED FROM N.J. BEAR HUNT

Star Ledger ^ | December 4, 2003 | BRIAN T. MURRAY

[d-back]

The state yesterday barred nearly 300 youngsters from next week's bear hunt in a move officials said was designed to protect the young hunters from potential confrontations with protesters.

DEP employees began telephoning the 278 boys and girls, ages 10 to 15, who had applied for permits for the hunt, telling them they could not participate even though they had already attended mandatory safety courses earlier this fall. DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell never mentioned his revocation order during an hour-long conference call with reporters yesterday, during which he repeated the DEP's position that the hunt is necessary to help reduce the growing bear population, estimated to be as high as 3,200.

[d-back]

The anti-hunting terrorists are winning. NJ Freepers, start calling Bradley Campbell at DEP or McGreevey's office.

[tet68]

A case where the rights of uninvited, unlicensed, protestors
are more important than the actual participants.

Shame on the state.

[d-back]

How right you are. Instead of having more law enforcement officials on hand to stop the protesters from breaking the law, the DEP decides that young hunters can't go out.

Truth is, Monday is the start of the six-day firearm season for deer, so the kids'll be in the woods anyway.

What rot.

[d-back]

FYI and BTTT

[billorites]

We're going on a bear hunt.
We're gonna catch a big one.
What a beautiful day!
We're not scared.

[Darksheare]

Just read that in the Startled Beggar about an hour ago.
You caught that the protestors were going to specifically harrass the kids?
How very *cough* brave of the protestors.

[hellinahandcart]

Unbelievable. They're worried that the minors might shoot the protestors. I suppose they could use that same line of reasoning with the adult hunters tomorrow.

Something is SERIOUSLY out of whack here. They should ban the damned protestors.

[d-back]

Amen, H in a HC.

NJ folks, hunters, and general Freeper sympathizers, it's time to Freep the DEP Commissioner, Bradley Campbell. His tel no. is 609-292-9410.

Please help out NJ. You may personally hunt, you may personally dislike hunting, but the lawless leftwing agitators should not be rewarded.

Also, you know how we have to put with hearing "It's For The Safety of the Children" from the left? Use that argument to beat them over the head. Kids in Sussex County, where most of the bears are, cannot even carry their lunches in their backpacks because of bears. Instead, they carry their lunches separately, so they can drop it and run if a bear comes along.

If you find that to be appalling, please help us out and make a call. Even if you're not from New Jersey.

[Dan from Michigan]

Does Jersey have a hunter harassment law?

[Darksheare]

I used to live in Vernon, on Loundsberry Hollow road.
I was one of teh lucky ones who used the bus to get to school.
However, across from Rolling Hills primary, and Loundsberry Hollow middle school there were caves that bears stayed in.
When the bears came out, we weren't allowed outside.

I find it disgusting that they are doing that to the kids and caving to what amounts to various forms of censorship, condemning that many more bears to a long torturous death by starvation in an already way bear overpopulated area, and philisophical infantilism (Kids with GUNS, oh no!).
The protestors must not have had their children threatened by bears, or had their pets eaten by bears.
Maybe the protestors can go and hug a bear to show solidarity against 'the man'?

Thanks for the info.
I'm somewhat too miffed to make coherent sense on my end here.
(There's alot of backspacing here and retyping stuff in an attempt to NOT sound or come across as rabid as the thoughts in my head are. I'm hoping that I succeed.)

[d-back]

Yes it does, Dan. But our DEP Head has decided to stop young hunters from going into the woods instead of enforcing the harassment law against the Animal Nuts.

That's like refusing to build skyscrapers because terrorists might crash planes into them. Talk about rewarding the lawless.

Bear in mind that these youngsters not only passed NJ's comprehensive hunter safety course, but also attended a three-hour bear hunt seminar this Fall to qualify for their bear permit.

[Darksheare]

No, not really.
They've protected Bambi and his buddy the Ursine Invader for 33 years.
When the yuppie scum had their Beemers get killed by Bambi's butt meeting their fender they let the deer be hunted (A little) more.
However, the bear have been off limits for 33 years.
And now there's an overpop of them that is a threat to life, limb, and property.
It's been awhile since I moved from NJ, but last I knew there weren't any hunter harrassment laws.

[Darksheare]

OKers.
I hadn't heard about the law being in existence.
*PHEW!*

[Blue Jays]

Good Afternoon All-

d-back, I'll make that telephone call down to Trenton...bump.

There's an interesting related thread running on FreeRepubic that should be of interest to many. These anti-hunt protestors are beyond belief...

~ Blue Jays ~

[ZULU]

"The state yesterday barred nearly 300 youngsters from next week's bear hunt in a move officials said was designed to protect the young hunters from potential confrontations with protesters."

HORSEFEATHERS!!

The REAL reason is the state wants to do eveything possible to prevent future generations of hunters, target shooters, gun collectors, historical re-enactors, etc, from being created.

Choke off the youth from a hobby or avocation and it becomes a dying practise. They KNOW this.

They want all future generations to engage in activities no more dangerous than promiscuous fornication - at least that creates more Democrats.

[Sunshine Sister]

Who is Russell going to complain to when a bear gets one of her kids.

[Redleg Duke]

I believe that the people of New Jersey have capitulated to the liberals. They are the "French of the New World".

[d-back]

Good point.

Calling Jersey Freepers.

[Fee]

I think if the Dems lose the 2004 election, these fringe groups will become more violent. Today they are willing to ratchet up their tactics to include heated confrontations and maybe threaten young kids. Since no politician is willing to confront them due to PC, and because they are allowing these leftist wackos get away with crossing the line, it is a matter of time it will escalate till innocent people will get hurt. If there are any level headed environmentalist out there, let this incident and many similiar to it be a warning. If these confrontations escalate in innocent deaths, your environmental goals you hold dear will be swept away in a public backlash, and the corporate polluter that you feared the most will get everything and then some. So do yourselves a favor, get hold of these leftist wackos in your movement and talk some sense into them or the movement will be finished.

[d-back]

Here's New Jersey's anti-harassment statute:

23:7A-2. Hindering or preventing the lawful taking of wildlife prohibited; specific acts prohibited

"No person may, for the purpose of hindering or preventing the lawful taking of wildlife:
a. block, obstruct, or impede, or attempt to block, obstruct, or impede, a person lawfully taking wildlife;
b. erect a barrier with the intent to deny ingress to or egress from areas where wildlife may be lawfully taken;
c. make, or attempt to make, unauthorized physical contact with a person lawfully taking wildlife;
d. engage in, or attempt to engage in, theft, vandalism, or destruction of personal or real property;
e. disturb or alter, or attempt to disturb or alter, the condition or authorized placement of personal or real property intended for use in the lawful taking of wildlife;
f. enter or remain upon public lands or waters, or upon private lands or waters without permission of the owner thereof or an agent of that landowner, where wildlife may be lawfully taken;
g. make or attempt to make loud noises or gestures, set out or attempt to set out animal baits, scents, or lures or human scent, use any other natural or artificial visual, aural, olfactory, or physical stimuli, or engage in or attempt to engage in any other similar action or activity, in order to disturb, alarm, drive, attract, or affect the behavior of wildlife or disturb, alarm, disrupt, or annoy a person lawfully taking wildlife; or
h. interject himself into the line of fire of a person lawfully taking wildlife."

It's essentially a disorderly persons offense, maximum fine of $500, but hunters are given a special right to sue for punitive and special damages. Wonder why New Jersey is not enforcing it against the animal nuts?