A convicted animal rights activist has been arrested - again - in Vernon Township, New Jersey.
19/07/07 14:13 Filed in: NJ Bear
Issue
Vernon Township is in
the middle of New Jersey with the highest
concentration of black bears. That's led to a number
on ongoing complaints about the furry marauders who
have pretty much made it a frightening proposition
for some residents to wander in their yards or walk
their pets without facing encounters with bears some
residents say "just won't go away."
Unfortunately, it's also home to several activists who have opposed the state's efforts to control the bear population with two one-week hunts in 2003 and 2005. One, Albert Kazemian, 50, apparently doesn't care that his neighbors don't want the bears around.
Unfortunately, it's also home to several activists who have opposed the state's efforts to control the bear population with two one-week hunts in 2003 and 2005. One, Albert Kazemian, 50, apparently doesn't care that his neighbors don't want the bears around.
He's determined to
thwart any efforts by NJ Department of Environmental
Protection state biologists to capture and relocate
the pesky bears. That refusal to play by the rules
has again led to his arrest.
In the wee small hours of Wednesday morning, Kazemian was apprehended following a brief chase that ensued after officers caught him allegedly pouring human urine on bait left to lure bears into a non-lethal trap near his home.
This is the latest in an ongoing series of problems wildlife officials have had where someone has tampered with the non-lethal traps they've set to catch problem bears for relocation. Apparently, a neighbor spotted - and photographed Kazemian doing the same thing to the trap the day before, setting off a stakeout that resulted in his arrest.
Residents have complained - almost equally, officials say - about problems with bears and bear protesters. It seems Wednesday's arrest may help resolve the problem with protesters.
The urine-pouring Kazemian now faces five counts for various offenses, and could face up to six months in jail for each offense. Last year, he was fined for disorderly persons charges after interfering with the state's approved bear hunt. This time, the judge might not be so sympathetic since he seems to prefer the bears presence to his neighbors' safety.
---
The Second Amendment Foundation is calling for the firing of a Boston Globe columnist who has admitted taking part in a "Straw Man" firearm purchase in New Hampshire nearly two years ago.
Globe columnist Steve Bailey apparently visited a New Hampshire gun show with an unidentified New Hampshire resident and John Rosenthal, head of Stop Handgun Violence in Massachusetts. The men were there for the purpose of demonstrating how "easy" it would be to purchase a handgun at a gun show.
There, Bailey picked out a handgun and had the New Hampshire man purchase it. He also said in a radio interview that he expensed the gun to the Boston Globe, although he "gave the gun back to the New Hampshire man" and doesn't know its whereabouts now.
That, says the SAF, constitutes a straw purchase, a federal felony. The SAF also says the Globe was unwittingly involved in a criminal enterprise by reimbursing Bailey for his illegal purchase.
The Foundation's Alan Gottlieb said it best: "Just because you hate guns, and Bailey made it clear he thinks we have way too many guns in this country, illegally buying a gun to write about it is still a crime."
Maybe so, but don't count on him being prosecuted, fired or reprimanded for his action.
---
Yesterday, we told you of reports concerning new governmental levies on professional hunters and outfitters in Zimbabwe. Today, word that the Zimbabwean government is very serious about seeing their fees collected. Vice President Joseph Msika has warned operators that the government will "ruthlessly deal with anyone" trying to undervalue or undeclared export receipts from hunting. Msika went on to warn operators attending an annual general meeting for "management of indigenous resources" that the government would continue to crackdown on violators.
As always, we'll keep you posted.
--Jim Shepherd (the outdoor wire, July 19, 2007)
In the wee small hours of Wednesday morning, Kazemian was apprehended following a brief chase that ensued after officers caught him allegedly pouring human urine on bait left to lure bears into a non-lethal trap near his home.
This is the latest in an ongoing series of problems wildlife officials have had where someone has tampered with the non-lethal traps they've set to catch problem bears for relocation. Apparently, a neighbor spotted - and photographed Kazemian doing the same thing to the trap the day before, setting off a stakeout that resulted in his arrest.
Residents have complained - almost equally, officials say - about problems with bears and bear protesters. It seems Wednesday's arrest may help resolve the problem with protesters.
The urine-pouring Kazemian now faces five counts for various offenses, and could face up to six months in jail for each offense. Last year, he was fined for disorderly persons charges after interfering with the state's approved bear hunt. This time, the judge might not be so sympathetic since he seems to prefer the bears presence to his neighbors' safety.
---
The Second Amendment Foundation is calling for the firing of a Boston Globe columnist who has admitted taking part in a "Straw Man" firearm purchase in New Hampshire nearly two years ago.
Globe columnist Steve Bailey apparently visited a New Hampshire gun show with an unidentified New Hampshire resident and John Rosenthal, head of Stop Handgun Violence in Massachusetts. The men were there for the purpose of demonstrating how "easy" it would be to purchase a handgun at a gun show.
There, Bailey picked out a handgun and had the New Hampshire man purchase it. He also said in a radio interview that he expensed the gun to the Boston Globe, although he "gave the gun back to the New Hampshire man" and doesn't know its whereabouts now.
That, says the SAF, constitutes a straw purchase, a federal felony. The SAF also says the Globe was unwittingly involved in a criminal enterprise by reimbursing Bailey for his illegal purchase.
The Foundation's Alan Gottlieb said it best: "Just because you hate guns, and Bailey made it clear he thinks we have way too many guns in this country, illegally buying a gun to write about it is still a crime."
Maybe so, but don't count on him being prosecuted, fired or reprimanded for his action.
---
Yesterday, we told you of reports concerning new governmental levies on professional hunters and outfitters in Zimbabwe. Today, word that the Zimbabwean government is very serious about seeing their fees collected. Vice President Joseph Msika has warned operators that the government will "ruthlessly deal with anyone" trying to undervalue or undeclared export receipts from hunting. Msika went on to warn operators attending an annual general meeting for "management of indigenous resources" that the government would continue to crackdown on violators.
As always, we'll keep you posted.
--Jim Shepherd (the outdoor wire, July 19, 2007)
