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by George Howard
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association July 2000 Newsletter)
LEGISLATIVE ALERT
A2308/S1162 _ Bills to prohibit black
bear hunting in N.J.
Senator Lou Bassano_s S1162 was heard
on Thursday June 15th in the Senate Environment Committee (McNamara, Ciesla, Adler, Bucco,
Vitale). Following testimony, the bill was amended by the sponsors (Bassano and Vitale) to
include $95,000 to be given to the Humane Society to research non-lethal means of
controlling bear populations, and released to the full Senate without recommendation by a
vote of 4 in favor and 1 opposed. Only Senator Ciesla supported the Federation and
Division’s position regarding this bad piece of legislation.
In listening to the testimony of most
of those in favor of A2308/S1162, both at the committee meeting on the 15th and at the
2000-2001 Game Code public hearing on the 6th, it is perfectly obvious that their
objective is more about doing away with the Fish & Game Council and prohibiting
hunting in general than it is about protecting black bears. Many of the state and national
anti-hunting animal rights organizations testified at both meetings (Humane Society, Fund
for Animals, Animal Protection Institute, New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance etc.). There
were so-called experts imported from as far away as Minnesota and California in opposition
to a hunting season on bears, and although the committee meeting was more civil, the
animal rights people spent much of their time at the public meeting on the game code
insulting the Fish & Game Council and sportsmen in general.
The Federation sees A2308/S1162 as a
direct attack on New Jersey’s method of managing our wildlife under Fish and Game
Codes promulgated by the Fish & Game Council. A method which has stood our citizens,
as well as our wildlife, well for over 100 years.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT OUR WILDLIFE AND
YOUR HUNTING HERITAGE THE TIME TO GET INVOLVED IS NOW. There has never been a greater
threat to New Jersey’s wildlife resources, AND OUR RIGHT TO USE THEM, than that posed
by the animal rights activists in New Jersey today.
In light of this vote it is
imperative that we immediately make every effort to contact Senate President Donald T.
DiFrancesco and our local Senators in opposition to S1162. (See Federation position
statement re A2308/S1162). The more personal contacts, letters, post cards, faxes and
phone calls opposing these bills the better. It is also tremendously important that
Assembly speaker Jack Collins, members of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee (Gibson, Myers, Chatzidakis, Rooney, Stuhltrager ,Conaway, Smith), and our local
Assembly persons be contacted in opposition to A2308 ASAP.
PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING TODAY:
Senator Donald T. DiFrancesco
1816 Front Street Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076
Ph. (908) 322-5500 fax. (908) 322-9347
Email SenDiFrancesco@njleg.state.nj.us
14 Rt. 50 Suite A Seaville, N.J. 08230
Ph. (609) 624-1222 fax. (609)624-0244
Email AsmGibson@njleg.state.nj.us
124 W. Washington Ave. Washington, N.J. 07882
Ph. (908) 835-1202 fax (908) 835-1205
Email AswMyers@njleg.state.nj.us
Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis
3000 Midlantic Dr. Suite 103 Mt. Laurel, N.J. 08054
Ph. (856) 234-8080 fax. (856) 234-3990
Email AsmChatzidakis@njleg.state.nj.us
436 Old Hook Rd. Emerson, N.J. 07630
Ph. (201) 967-8910 fax. (201) 967-0331
Email AsmRooney@njleg.state.nj.us
35 Cooper St. 1st Flr. Woodbury, N.J. 08096
Ph. (856) 853-7868 fax. (856) 853-7580
Email AsmStuhltrager@njleg.state.nj.us
Assemblyman Herbert W. Conaway Jr.
Delran Professional Center
8008 Rt. 130 North Delran. N.J. 08075
Ph. (856) 461-3997 fax. (856) 461-3823
Email AsmConaway@njleg.state.nj.us
Assemblyman Robert J. Smith
110-F Greentree Rd.
Washington Township, N.J. 08012
Ph. (856) 232-6700 Fax (856) 232-6844
Re: S1162 / A2308 _ Bills which would
prohibit Black Bear hunting in the State of New Jersey
S 1162 (Sponsor Bassano - Senate Environment Committee
A 2308 (Sponsors Bateman, Gusciora) -
Assembly Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
The New Jersey State Federation of
Sportsmen’s Clubs opposes the enactment of S1162/A2308, bills that would
legislatively prohibit the resumption of Black Bear hunting in our State. These identical
bills, which are being promoted primarily by anti-hunting, animal rights factions, would
change how we have managed New Jersey’s wildlife resources since 1948, and would have
the effect of politicizing the wildlife management process in our State.
By legislatively prohibiting hunting
for black bears, S1162/A2308 would eliminate the most effective tool available to control
Black Bear populations. Sport hunting is the chosen method of population control for black
bears being utilized by all States in the east with sizeable Black Bear populations.
(Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts etc.). Hunting is the most practical, efficient,
and cost effective means available to the New Jersey Fish & Game Council and our
Division of Fish & Wildlife to halt the tremendous expansion of our northern New
Jersey bear population, which has occurred since the Fish & Game Council closed the
bear hunting season in 1972. (The northern New Jersey bear population has increased from
25 bears in 1972 to over 1,000 bears in 2000, with most of the increase taking place in
the last 10 years).
S1162/A2308, if enacted, would
significantly reduce the public’s involvement in New Jersey_s Wildlife Management
process. The management of New Jersey’s wildlife resources by an act of the
legislature, such as proposed in S1162/.A2308 for black bears, would eliminate the
requirement for public hearings presently in effect when wildlife regulations are
promulgated under the Fish & Game Codes by the Fish & Game Council.
These bills would also eliminate the
present requirement that New Jersey’s wildlife be managed "on the basis of
scientific information and research" contained in the Fish & Game Codes.
S1162/A2308 are examples of bad
special interest legislation. They are bad bills, not only for Black Bears and other New
Jersey wildlife, but for all New Jersey citizens who have an interest in our wildlife and
its proper management. Not only would a most important management tool be denied to our
wildlife managers, but the public’s right to be heard would be significantly reduced
by the enactment of S1162/A2308 , together with our expectation that our wildlife
resources are being managed by the "best scientific information and research" as
required by present law. The politicizing of New Jersey Wildlife Management programs, as
contained in S1162/A2308 does a disservice to our wildlife and our citizens alike.
The New Jersey State Federation of
Sportsmen’s Clubs requests a "no" vote on S1162 and A2308.
Respectfully submitted,
George P. Howard, Executive Director
New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
May 25, 2000
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