2 replies to this topic

[Cranky Farmer]

Texas Animal Cruelty Bills Will Wreck HuntingBill passes Texas House with overwhelming supportApril 27, 2007 (Texas)Texas sportsmen should take immediate action to oppose legislation that will derail hunting and wildlife management. On April 19, the Texas House of Representatives passed HB 2328 to rewrite animal cruelty statutes, combining previously exempted wildlife with domestic animals. The bill had overwhelming support, passing by a vote of 142 to 0, with a single abstention. Blurring the distinction between wildlife and domestic animals will leave sportsmen open to prosecution by animal cruelty statutes. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Beverly Woolley, R-Houston, awaits action in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Rep. Woolley made efforts to resolve issues in HB 2328, but the bill remains unacceptable. It attempts to exempt hunting, fishing and trapping, population and depredation control and normal agricultural practices, but it constitutes a major change to the existing statute. It leaves unanswered questions relating to wildlife management and feral animals, and provides a new landscape for animal activists to criminalize currently accepted activities. Current statutes provide reasonable avenues for prosecution of animal cruelty and the changes to the law are unnecessary. Senators are also considering Sen. John Whitmire’s companion bill, SB 1100. The bill is in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. The USSA is working with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and others to defeat the bills. Take Action! Texas sportsmen should contact their state senators to oppose the HB 2328 and SB 1100. Use the Legislative Action Center at http://www.ussportsmen.org to make contact. Information on this website can be reprinted with a citation to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and www.ussportsmen.orgFor more information about how you can protect your rights as a sportsman, contact The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, 801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229. Phone (614) 888-4868. E-Mail us at info@USSPORTSMEN.org

[Bozsik]

Hey Heath,What does the Bill acually say? The writeup is very vague as to the details. It states that the Bill attempts to exempt certain animals, but from what? Maybe I am missing something there. If it is written and passed by current politicians, it is suspect by me anyway. It wouldn't matter what it was.db

[rr762mmfmj]

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Beverly Woolley, R-Houston, awaits action in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

Just what we need, a Republican introducing this type of legislature. It makes me sick.