Posted on 03/02/2017 12:17:28 PM PST by jazusamo
New Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed an order Thursday overturning a ban on using lead ammunition on wildlife refuges.
Zinke signed the order on his first day in office, overturning a policy implemented by former Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe on Jan. 19, the Obama administration’s last full day in office.
Ashe’s policy would have banned the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on all FWS wildlife refuges that allow hunting or fishing, as well as in all other hunting or fishing regulated by the agency elsewhere.
It was meant to reduce the harm to animals and plants from potential poisoning from ammunition left on the ground or in the water.
“After reviewing the order and the process by which it was promulgated, I have determined that the order is not mandated by any existing statutory or regulatory requirement and was issued without significant communication, consultation or coordination with affected stakeholders,” Zinke wrote in his order.
Zinke also signed an order Thursday asking agencies within his purview to find ways to increase access to outdoor recreation on the lands they oversee.
“It worries me to think about hunting and fishing becoming activities for the land-owning elite,” he said in a statement. “This package of secretarial orders will expand access for outdoor enthusiasts and also make sure the community's voice is heard.”
Gun rights advocates, sportsmen’s groups, conservatives and state wildlife agencies were united against the lead ban.
Lead is standard in ammunition, and lead-free bullets are more expensive, leading opponents to accuse FWS of trying to crack down on hunting. Furthermore, opponents say that scientific studies do not show large-scale harms from lead use in hunting and fishing.
“This was a reckless, unilateral overreach that would have devastated the sportsmen's community,” Chris Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement, thanking Zinke.
“The Obama administration failed to consult with state fish and wildlife agencies or national angling and hunting organizations in issuing this order. This was not a decision based on sound scientific evidence — it was a last second attack on traditional ammunition and our hunting heritage.”
“Leads to indiscriminate killing of wildlife.”
Seriously? Can you back that up?
I’m guessing that lead shot for waterfowl is still banned as it has been for years. And I think the studies on the ill effects it has on waterfowl and the food chain is well-founded.
It sounds like this is for bullets - usually used over land, and hopefully most of them get stuck in the critter anyways! And for lead weights for fishing. Not too many of them get stuck in the mud - at least not compared to lead shot.
https://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/pdfs/lead_poisoning_wild_birds_2009.pdf
https://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/documents/92JCF.CLE01.pdf
Bravo.
Adults are back in charge.
I won't even mention what the Sacramento fruit loops did about the subject.
I entirely missed the lead poison epidemic in Northern California.
Yes, I think that waterfowl are the most vulnerable. But so are birds of prey in other areas. (I by the way wouldn’t allow the stupid “clean energy” windmills to chop up birds the way they do either.)
Separately but related is the question of lead poisoning in those who eat lead-hunted meat.
Really I haven’t looked at the specifics of this rule or its repeal, but this is the sort of area where I least want to see EPA rules rolled back.
IIRC the last smelter processing lead ore closed down a few years ago. One of the reasons given for its closure was that no more “virgin” lead was required, at that time, since existing lead supplies exceeded demand and there are still plants that recycle existing lead supplies into whatever is needed. (Maybe someday additional virgin lead will be required.)
The interesting thing is that if a human is shot by a lead bullet, it is left in place as it is considered to be inert and not a risk.
Wonder why Obama thought it should be different with animals?
Most land-based critters don’t eat lead shot in the dirt, much less actual bullets. So a hawk grabbing a rabbit or mouse isn’t at risk. Pheasant and other birds will eat gravel - so they may pose a bit of a risk.
The Magnum Trump Wedgie on the moonbats continues apace.
Using Solid copper bullets requires a different way of thinking than with jacketed lead core bullets. Since copper is lighter and less dense than lead, it is not practical to make very heavy bullets without making them extremely long. Very long bullets require a much faster twist barrel to stabilize them, which are not standard on factory rifles, and become unstable quicker. Thus, the use of lighter bullets requires "thinking faster" instead of heavier. A lighter bullet with a high ballistic coefficient shot at faster speeds has less drop at all ranges than heavy jacketed bullets. Energy is slightly less and wind drift is virtually the same.
Most lighter bullets suffer from low ballistic coefficients and therefore are not a good alternative to heavier bullets as heavier lead core bullets tend to have a higher ballistic coefficient due to their density being greater. Also, just because a bullet does have a high BC it doesn't necessarily mean it is more accurate.
Love it...I’ll join you in a cup of that too. LOL!
...right click view for larger graphic
These are not my items on eBay, if anyone is curious.
I. Just.Do. NOT Believe. IT. Sorry, end of discussion.
Thanks! They’re not only great conversation pieces but I have some relatives and friends they’d make great gifts for.
“Interior secretary repeals ban on lead bullets in wildlife refuges”
Good!
Couldn’t agree more...There are many sleeper leftists in all the agencies anxious to derail President Trump and do harm to freedom loving citizens.
That was quick. RMGO just put up a petition to get Trump to repeal this ban two days ago.
Yes I agree. I stumbled across some of them, and thought folks would like to see them on the forum.
Take care.
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