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Since the North Dakota Hunters for Fair Chase Committee filed the papers
necessary to put the issue of killing deer, elk and exotic mammals
trapped inside escape proof fences before the voters of North Dakota,
the speculation and outright lies generated by people who oppose the
initiative have bordered on hysteria. Without reading the initiative,
some people have jumped to the conclusion that we are an anti-hunting
organization with a secret agenda to ban hunting altogether. Nothing
could be further from the truth.
I enlisted in this issue because I am passionate about hunting and even
more passionate about preserving the hunting heritage passed down to my
generation by the great names of the sport; Theodore Roosevelt, George
Bird Grinnell, Gifford Pinchot, Aldo Leopold, and other conservation
legends. I sincerely hoped that there would be an honest debate
concerning the issue of killing deer, elk and exotic mammals behind high
fences, animals that have no chance of escaping the hunter, the basic
element of Fair Chase hunting. Unfortunately, my hope was misplaced. The
opposition to this initiative made it clear the day after the North
Dakota Hunters for Fair Chase filed the initiative with the Secretary of
State that this will not be an honest debate, but a fight based on
anything but the facts.
To dispel rumors and lies, we have listed what will appear on the ballot
in November, 2008 below. Any reasonable voter can read the ballot title
and the text of the initiative and see what the law will do, and what it
won't do. Committee member Dick Monson gives a to-the-point analysis of
what the initiated law will not do below the title and
initiative.
Roger Kaseman, Chair, North Dakota Hunters for Fair Chase.
The Wording That Will
Appear on the Ballot.
(Language Prepared by the
Secretary of State and the Attorney General.) This initiated measure would add a new section to chapter 36-01 of the North Dakota Century Code effective November 1, 2010, providing that a person, other than an authorized government employee or agent, is guilty of a crime if the person obtains payment for the killing or attempted killing of privately owned big game species or exotic mammals in or released from a man-made enclosure.
The Actual Language of The
Initiative: (Pertinent Language Italicized)
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA: SECTION 1.
A new section to chapter 36-01
of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows: Fee killing of
certain captive game animals prohibited – Penalty – Exception.
A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if the person obtains fees
or other remuneration from another person for the killing or attempted
killing of privately-owned big game species or exotic mammals confined
in or released from any man-made enclosure designed to prevent escape. This
section does not apply to the actions of a government employee or agent
to control an animal population, to prevent or control diseases, or when
government action is otherwise required or authorized by law. SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act becomes effective on November 1, 2010.
This measure, when passed, will do only three things:
1.
Eliminate canned shooting of captive big-game species inside
escape-proof fences for fees.
2.
Same for exotic non-native mammals, (read Russian Wild Boar, one of
which was found in central North Dakota last year. He didn't parachute
in here).
3.
Eliminate computer-controlled remotely fired weapons for canned
shooting, (the infamous Texas-style computer shooting at game ranches).
The measure does not affect game ranching or bison in any way, nor
commercial slaughter of big game species for meat and animal products,
nor the sale of breeding stock, nor the sale of individual animals, nor
the raising of any of them. Dick Monson, Committee Member, North Dakota Hunters for Fair Chase.
For More Information, Contact: Roger Kaseman 8120 17th Avenue S. E. Linton, North Dakota 58552 701-254-4875 |