Legislation Issues

SCI Says “NO” To Global Gun Registration

At the United Nations Conference on Small Arms that is going on as you are reading this, there is a push underway to require gun registration under global rules, to control the movement of ammunition, and to have a global treaty making all of this legally-binding. SCI addressed the conference last week and said that hunters need to be able to own and transport firearms and ammunition without unnecessary interference. SCI reminded delegates that international sport hunting is the basis for wildlife conservation in many developing countries.

The push for gun registration and other controls is coming from a large coalition of non-government organizations that have great influence on many countries. SCI, along with allied groups in the World Forum on the Future of Shooting Sports Activities, delivered addresses to the delegates to the two-week U.N. conference reminding them of the concerns and needs of law-abiding gun-owners. SCI is the only hunting organization represented.

There is no opportunity for non-government organizations like SCI to engage delegates directly in debate over these points, but we are given the chance to address all the delegates at once during the conference. A delegate told SCI that this is very important because the speeches are published on the U.N. website and are picked up by media around the world and so in effect we are speaking to the whole world. U.N. delegates are sensitive to public opinion in their countries, so this one opportunity to speak is important. The World Forum coalition is also engaged in lobbying behind the scenes.

If you would like to read and/or see the speech made by Director of Governmental Affairs Rick Parsons, visit http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/ngos.html. Also note with interest the speeches made by the Canadian and Brazilian delegations. We will keep SCI members posted on this issue as it continues.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Groups Settle Polar Bear Lawsuit

(Note: The full story can be seen on the front page of the July Safari Times.)

On July 5, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved a settlement agreement entered into by the Fish and Wildlife Service and three environmental groups in a case involving the FWS’s alleged failure to respond in a timely manner to a petition to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act. Such a listing would interfere with the importation into the United States of trophies from Canada. In February 2006, the FWS announced that it would undertake a one-year review to consider whether to propose a rule listing the species. SCI submitted comments during the public comment period, which ended on June 15, 2006. Under the settlement agreement, the FWS committed to decide by December 27, 2006 whether it will propose such a rule. The FWS retained complete discretion to decide any way it wants. If the FWS proposes to list the polar bear, it will begin a decision-making process lasting at least one year, at which time the FWS would announce its final decision whether to add the polar bear to the list of threatened or endangered species. The government also agreed to pay the three groups a total of $22,400 for litigation costs.

Canadian Government Suspends Air Canada Firearm Handling Fee

In response to a complaint filed jointly by SCI and the NRA, the Canadian Transportation Agency today suspended the $50 fee that Air Canada has attempted to levy for the transport of a firearm. Air Canada had announced that effective June 1, a fee of $65 would be assessed for persons traveling on the airline. The airline reduced the fee to $50 amid outcry from hunting and conservation groups, but confirmed its intention to levy this discriminatory and excessive fee beginning June 5. SCI and others filed a formal complaint with the Canadian government, and today, the Canadian Transportation Agency served notice of a tariff complaint upon the airline and suspended the fee for international flights. Hunters and other passengers traveling with firearms internationally on Air Canada now cannot be charged this fee until the complaint has been resolved. No word yet on whether domestic airlines will follow suit. SCI will keep you posted as this story progresses.

SCI Questions Concept of "World Hunting Association"

The "World Hunting Association" last week announced that it would stage a series of "tournament" professional hunting events this year, in which the game pursued would be shot with tranquilizer darts launched from bow hunting equipment. Participants would compete for much as $600,000 in prize money over the series of tournament events. SCI has serious concerns with attempts to "professionalize" the tradition of the hunt, particularly with cash rewards. In addition, the institution of "catch and release" tactics for hunting, using powerful sedatives, is highly questionable with regard to the future health of the game animals that are captured for the competition. While the group espouses the noble goals of increasing hunter recruitment and retention, SCI believes that education and outreach programs remain the best option for bring newcomers into the field. Likewise, SCI believes that conventional regulated hunting techniques, including due diligence on the part of hunters to prevent the wounding of game, are the only true definition of hunting. SCI President Mike Simpson told Crosshairs that "Hunting isn't bass fishing. It just doesn't translate to made-for-TV entertainment, conducted on a professional catch-and-release basis for cash rewards."

Hollywood and Hunting – Doing Hunting Right

For the last two years SCI has sponsored workshops at the national convention on Hunting and Hollywood put together by actors/writers/producers Patrick Kilpatrick (Minority Report) and James Swan ( In Defense of Hunting). At SCI's request, Patrick and James have assembled a comprehensive media/PR/event celebrity program and team to counter anti-hunting disinformation, and capture the generations to come by encouraging more mainstream TV and feature films to portray hunters as heroes and show their vital contributions to conservation.

Through Kilpatrick's production company, Uncommon Dialogue Films ( www.udfilms.com ) they are a developing an extraordinary array of global media properties that will include heroic characters that are hunters and firearms enthusiasts. They have secured major funding from international sources but invite SCI members to join them. Swan and Kilpatrick are ready to discuss their projects and investment options. For more details contact: Uncommon Dialogue Films, 570 N. Rossmore Ave. suite 203, Los Angeles, CA. 90004 Tel: 323 962-3200 / Fax 323 962-3100.

Cape Cod Comments Due

The Cape Cod National Seashore is accepting comments on its proposed hunting program. SCI generally supports the National Park Service’s preferred alternative to preserve and improve hunting opportunities, but opposes a proposal to end a popular stock and release pheasant hunt in 15 years. Anti-hunting groups will be strong in their opposition to this plan, which generally preserves hunting traditions on Cape Cod. Comments are due by June 19, 2006. More information is available on the Seashore’s website, http://www.nps.gov/caco/.

Subsistence Victory and Delay in Alaska Litigation

On June 9th, Judge Holland of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska issued a ruling in SCI's long-standing subsistence hunting litigation. The Judge once again endorsed SCI's position that sports hunters have a role in deciding if and how subsistence hunting priorities should be allocated on federal lands in Alaska. Nonetheless, the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the process by which the federal government adopted its regulations to deal with the sportsmen’s' ability to participate. Judge Holland sent the rule back to the federal government, directing them to begin the rulemaking process from scratch.

Trophy Importation – Clarification

In the June 12 edition of Crosshairs, SCI informed its members about new trophy importation guidelines from the USDA and APHIS. These regulations do NOT apply to Canada. Imports from Canada will continue as before. For more information, contact APHIS at www.aphis.usda.gov/.

Kansas Bans Hog Hunting

Kansas has enacted legislation making it illegal for anyone to “engage in...assist or profit from the release, killing, wounding or attempted killing or wounding of feral swine for the purpose of sport, pleasure, amusement or production of a trophy.” According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, this legislation was needed to prevent residents from releasing feral swine in new areas in order to have a new hunting opportunity. These releases had a negative impact on the surrounding environment and privately owned land. In the end, the state’s solution was to ban all swine hunting to cut off the incentive to transport and release feral swine into other areas. Sportsmen groups in Kansas are currently assessing their options on how to better manage the population and overturn this ban before the start of next year’s legislative session. SCI will keep you posted on any progress.

TSA Stops SCI Member from Carrying High-Caliber Ammunition

A TSA Agent recently prevented an SCI member from boarding his plane with four boxes of securely stored .577 ammunition. The TSA Agent told the traveler that ammunition over .50 caliber is not allowed on airplanes and forced him to leave his ammunition with a Deputy Sheriff at the airport. The mis-informed TSA agent explained that their rule is to not allow ammunition over .50 caliber on any planes but inquiries with other TSA agents after the fact found that to be untrue. SCI is currently working with the major airlines to develop standards for traveling with firearms and ammunition nationally and internationally while hunting.

No Impact on Hunting from Foot and Mouth Outbreak in Botswana

There is a rumour circulating that hunting in Botswana has been closed due to a foot and mouth outbreak. According to the Botswana Embassy in South Africa, there is indeed a foot and mouth problem in the country but hunting has not been affected. SCI’s South African office also spoke to the Botswana Wildlife Management Association and according to them the only problem is with the delay in the export of a few trophies. There is no impact on hunting at all at this time and SCI will keep you posted on any developments.