·11250 Waples Mill Road · Fairfax, Virginia 22030 ·800-392-8683
Posted on 11/17/2006 12:16:56 PM PST by neverdem
Fairfax, VA – Last month, President George W. Bush signed the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, which included an NRA-supported provision saving hundreds of elk and mule deer on Santa Rosa Island from the court-ordered extermination that was to begin in 2008 and be completed by 2011.
However, yesterday, Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein attached an amendment to the Military Construction Appropriations bill that will overturn current law and exterminate hundreds of healthy elk and mule deer on Santa Rosa Island, off the coast of California. This issue is not about public access or whether these animals should be hunted and by whom. Current law protects the Santa Rosa elk and deer from extermination and this amendment will require that the animals be exterminated by 2011.
NRA-ILA Chief Lobbyist Chris W. Cox stated, “In a blatant attempt to slaughter these animals – for absolutely no good purpose – Senators Boxer and Feinstein claim to, ‘correct a terrible mistake’. The only irreversible mistake in this situation is if these elitist politicians are allowed to kill healthy and robust animals for political purposes.”
Santa Rosa Roosevelt elk and Kaibab mule deer are unique and invaluable, as they are free from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and other ailments that threaten the species on the mainland. Forty miles of Pacific Ocean offer them a sanctuary from disease. The healthy and thriving herds can be used as breeding stock to repopulate in case of disaster on the mainland.
Cox concluded, “This is not about hunting – this is about political pandering and payback. The NRA is calling on Congress to not allow Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to kill hundreds of healthy elk and mule deer – for no good reason.”
- nra -
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services.
Boxer and Feinstein go nativist! All descendants of transplants must self deport or die. Environmentally pure and politically correct, being attached as an amendment to the Military Construction Appropriations bill is testimony to more politics of the absurd.
There is lots of comment on this subject from yesterday. It might be good to combine so everyone can see all of the comments. It is a great subject.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1739868/posts
maybe the Santa Rosa elk and mule deer should author a provision about the senators boxer and feinstein [or merely kick them]. It would be more fun.
Hunter Defends Plan for Military Use of Santa Rosa Island
Thursday, December 22, 2005
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
Boxer and Feinstein criticize the plan, which could limit public use, as 'premature and rash.'
WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee defended his plan to give the military use of a National Park island off California, saying he wants to help disabled veterans and save deer and elk - not give the island to the Pentagon or keep the public out.
"I've heard that there is discussion or rumor that DOD (Department of Defense) was going to take ownership of Santa Rosa Island," Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said in an interview December 14. "That is not what we want to do. I want to see two things. One is to allow our paralyzed veterans to hunt and fish at Santa Rosa Island as a special place for them, and number two is to stop the extermination plan of deer and elk."
Hunter contended a court-ordered settlement that says a private hunting business must be off the 53,000-acre Santa Rosa Island by 2011 would result in the game being shot from helicopters once that deadline comes.
"Why aren't the environmentalists concerned about exterminating the little fawns?" he asked.
The court settlement does specify the use of "trained professionals and helicopters," but opponents disputed the notion of a large-scale extermination of deer and elk, saying the settlement envisions a gradual reduction, so most of the animals would be gone by 2011 anyway.
Santa Rosa Island, about 40 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, is the second-largest of the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park. The federal government bought it for $30 million in 1986 from the Vails, a local ranching family. Litigation among the Vails, an environmental group and the National Park Service resulted in the 1998 court deal to end the Vails' hunting concession by 2011. There are now more than 400 deer and more than 700 elk on the island.
The deer and elk are not native to Santa Rosa. Efforts have been under way to restore the islands to their natural state and save native species.
Hunter's proposal, circulating as an amendment to a pending defense bill, would give the military use of Santa Rosa Island effective January 1, 2009, as a "morale, welfare and recreation operation" for members of the Armed Forces, dependents, veterans, guests and others. The island also would be available for use as a training area for special operations forces.
The proposal would be part of a wide-ranging defense bill that many lawmakers want to use to outlaw cruel or inhumane treatment of terrorism-related detainees. The detainee language is still being worked out, but congressional leaders hope to get final votes on the bill in the House and Senate before the end of the month and send it to President Bush.
Hunter's comments didn't silence concerns from environmentalists and Democrats, who fear his plan could amount to putting the island under military control and bar public access. Critics also oppose overturning the court settlement; an outcome they fear could result in environmental harm to the island.
Democratic senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer sent a letter to the chairman, Sen. John Warner, R-Va. and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticizing Hunter's plan to include the transfer of the island in a pending defense bill as "premature and rash" .
The letter said that the Defense Department has not requested the island and the Park Service opposes the transfer. The letter also says that Hunter's language could restrict public access to the island.
Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., whose district includes Santa Rosa, noted that the island, which the public can visit by boat, is now open to everyone - including veterans.
"All Americans should have access to the Channel Islands National Park, not just top military brass, members of Congress and folks who can pay thousands of dollars to go on private hunting trips," Capps said.
"As to the future of the animals on the island, especially after 2011, this is an important public policy issue that deserves full and open discussion over the next several years with all the relevant stakeholders. It is ridiculous to ram this provision through behind closed doors as Congress is racing to get out of town for Christmas."
Hunter proposed a similar measure in May only to drop it amid objections from Dem-ocrats and environmentalists.
Will someone at PETA please pick up the white courtesy phone? Your campaign donations to the Democrats seem to have worn-off already.
It appears the Senators are being consistently anti-gun, anti-military and have their well-fed buttocks imprinted with the Environmentalists lipprints
Thanks for the link.
Boxer/Feinstein want to KILL BAMBI!
Who wants to start the Billboard fund?
"Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., whose district includes Santa Rosa, noted that the island, which the public can visit by boat, is now open to everyone - including veterans."
Wow. I don't know what to say. Even the lowly veteran is allowed on the island.
This act shows how real cruel and mean and very stupid the dimwits are.
They want to do this out of spite for the Pres.? These people are sicker than I thought.
Unavailable for comment;
http://garymuledeer.com/
"I've got CWD?!"
Why do they want to wipe out the elk and deer?
They are not native to the island. Plus they are worried about protecting some endangered weeds.
Check out the link in post #2 above for more info from the earlier thread.
Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...
Where do the EnviroWhackos stand on this?
What about the mustangs out West; they aren't native.
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