orted and scientists were sure that opening the hunt would not return us to the population problems of the 70’s.
The animal rights people, using the bear hunt as their excuse, have come after all sportsmen, both hunters and anglers. They will only be satisfied if no one if allowed to hunt or fish anywhere in the state of New Jersey. Hunting and fishing is historically how we fed our families and some of us still do. If you read most religious texts, you will find examples of hunting and fishing as a way to sustain life. Assemblymen Panter and Senator Karcher are doing the bidding of the “animal rights” activists. They have cloaked their bills as conservation but this is politics at its most blatant. Every reference to hunting and fishing as a use of the public resource was removed from the bill, an interesting choice in a bill about the Fish and Game Council. If they have their way, it will become the Fish and Wildlife Council. We already have a committee called the NonGame and Endangered Species Council that deals with wildlife that is not traditionally hunted or fished. This is a blatant end run around the existing Fish and Game Council and an attempt to replace a successful management plan with political opportunism. We would like to thank Republican Assemblyman John Rooney and Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis for their support in calling this bill anti farming, anti fishing and anti hunting and unnecessary under any guise. They were the only two votes against this bill in the Environment and Solid Waste Committee. The other members of the committee, including the chairman, voted to send this atrocious bill to the Assembly. They decided to join ranks with the anti hunting and anti fishing lobby. It was a shame the chairman, John McKeon, did not even allow groups like NJ Audubon, who would have spoken in opposition, to do so. They allowed written statements and then went directly to a vote without reading any of the statements. Looks like a decision was made before the hearing began.
The other members who voted for this bill are John McKeon, Charles Epps and Louis Manzo. They are all Democrats. Rumor has it that they wanted a picture taken with the “animal rights” activists but ignored any opportunity to be seen with the sportsmen in attendance. Guess they want to be in the “animal rights” newspaper and on their contribution list. I don’t know how they can ignore 1.3 million sportspersons in New Jersey but I guess time will tell.
Assemblyman Fisher from Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where this bill was slated for posting, would not post this bill. He realized this was not good for the hunters, anglers or farmers who are represented on the Fish and Game Council. What Assemblyman Panter did was shop for a committee that would do what he wanted and totally ignore any input from the hunters, anglers or farmers.
I am not only Legislative Chairman for JCAA but also for New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. I represent both groups because our interests are often so clearly connected. For both organizations, the protection of the public resource comes first. We have always considered ourselves New Jersey’s first and longest lasting environmental organizations. JCAA and NJSFSC will be working together to decide on the appropriate action. We will not sit idly by when our traditional way of life is threatened. Right now you can write your legislators and the Assembly leadership to express your opposition to these bills. Remind them that the hunters, anglers and farmers of New Jersey will be paying close attention to their votes. Go to the New Jersey Legislative webpage at www.njleg.state.nj.us to find names and addresses for your legislators and the Assembly leadership. JCAA and NJSFSC will keep you posted. We are organizing a statewide steering committee to decide on a plan of action.