U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) has introduced a legislation that will prevent the import and confinement of any exotic animal whose purpose would be for hunting.
Posted by George DeGiovanni, Best Friends Network.
On Thursday April 24th, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) office issued a press release announcing the introduction of the legislation that will hopefully bring “Canned Hunts” to an end here in the United States.
A canned hunt is essentially a trophy hunt where the customer is guaranteed a kill by the simple expedient of the hosts pre-capturing the animal, and releasing it into an area where the hunter can take a shot at it, such as in a fenced-in area.**
“There is nothing sportsmanlike or skillful about shooting an animal that cannot escape. The idea of a defenseless animal meeting a violent end as the target of a canned hunt is, at the very least, distasteful to many Americans,” said Sen. Lautenberg. “Canned hunting is a form of brutality that has no place in our society.”
The
Humane Society of the United States estimates that over 1,000 canned hunting ranches offer exotic animals or non-native animals as targets in 28 states. The prices range from $800.00 for a Gazelle to $8,000 for an Antelope. Canned Hunting is illegal in many states.
In May, 2007 a much-reported hunting trip involved the killing of 1,051 pound pet pig in an alleged canned hunt. The pig was deemed "Monster Pig" by the media and it was believed that the pig was a feral hog. It was soon discovered that the pig, previously named "Fred," had been someone's pet and was then sold to a hunting facility only a brief time before he was killed. On May 3, paying customers Mike Stone and his 11-year-old son, Jamison, hunted him in a 150-acres fenced enclosure. Jamison shot Fred a total of eight times over a period of three hours.**
Lautenberg’s legislation, the Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2008, prohibits the transfer, transport, and possession of a confined exotic animal for the purpose of killing it for trophy or entertainment. The bill applies only to exotic (non-native) mammals in areas smaller than 1,000 acres.
Lautenberg’s bill does not regulate the hunting of native mammals, such as white-tail deer; nor does the bill regulate the hunting of any birds. Additionally, the measure does not regulate the hunters who patronize canned hunt facilities; merely the conduct of persons who operate canned hunts or traffic in exotic mammals used in such hunts. The Lautenberg legislation will have no effect on cattle ranching, the hunting or breeding of any animals that live in the wild in the United States, rodeos, livestock shows, petting zoos, or horse or dog racing.
What can you do:
Contact Senator Lautenberg and let him and his office know that you support this bill. Contact you local [url=[url=[url=
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm]Congressional]http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm]Congressional person[/ur] and ask them to support this bill.
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/Hart Senate Office Building
Suite 324
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3224
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the USDA.
**Copyright (c) George C. DeGiovanni.
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