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NRA Off Target in Protecting Poachers
Thousands of gun owners flocked to the National Rifle Association convention in Phoenix this past weekend, with participants and keynote speakers rallying around their core interests of concealed handguns, background checks, and President Obama’s gun policy. One topic that I suspect didn’t make the agenda: The NRA’s continued defense of poaching.
Talk Back /
Take Action for Animals This Summer
It’s a life-changing event, and two months from now you can be part of it. Here’s what animal advocates had to say after previously attending the Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) conference in the nation’s capital:
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The Front Group Behind Cockfighting Criminals
Imagine a drug dealer peddling heroin in a schoolyard, and then using the ill-begotten gains to hire a professional lobbyist to advocate for relaxing the drug laws. Or using drug money to make political contributions, hoping to curry favor with lawmakers.
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Europe Votes to Save Seals
An historic vote this morning in the European Parliament will have ripple effects for animals on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. All 27 member nations of the European Union will soon ban the import and sale of seal fur, drying up the market for Canada’s annual hunt of baby seals—the largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals in the world.
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Deal Dogs a Winning Hand
It’s a
consensus position that dogfighting is abusive and unacceptable, and an important part of
our work at The HSUS and HSLF involves strengthening the state and federal laws
to combat this practice. But it’s not enough just to wrestle down the cruelty
and put people in jail when it occurs—we also need to reach out to young people
and make sure they don’t get lured into the world of dogfighting in the first
place.
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Boots on the Ground for Animals
As everyone knows, money talks. Whether an animal welfare law will be effective often turns on whether it gets
adequately funded. And that spending is vital even when it comes in the worst economic times since the Great Depression. Our fortunes are intertwined with those of animals, and proper enforcement not only helps these creatures but also helps to improve food safety, public health, disaster preparedness, and other social concerns.
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An Ounce of Python Prevention
“Swamp Things,” a fascinating article by Burkhard
Bilger in the April 20 issue of The New Yorker, describes how the
exotic pet industry has helped transform the state of Florida into “a
biological cesspool of introduced life.” As fads of exotic birds, reptiles, and
primates have come and gone, nonnative species have established themselves
in the wild—transported by hurricanes or deliberately set loose by their
owners. As Bilger explains:
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Giving Rare Species a Place on Our Planet
One of the quiddities of the U.S. Congress is that it’s slow
by design. Bills have to make it through both the House and the Senate, via
committee process and floor action in both chambers. That’s why more than
10,000 bills are introduced in a two-year congressional session, and only 4 to
5 percent actually become law.
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Writing Off Fido and Fluffy
Ben Stein has some advice on how to get through the worst economic times since the Great Depression: Get a dog.
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Stamp Out Extinction
In an era of shrinking government budgets, lawmakers are seeking out new revenue streams to help fund critical social programs.
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Legislation, All I Ever Wanted
Congress is on spring recess this week and next, and it provides an opportunity for animal advocates to spring into action. You may not be able to travel to Washington to meet with your representatives and senators in person, but you can meet with them in their district and state offices close to home. In fact, lawmakers often have more time to visit with constituents in their district offices, because their Washington schedules are so hectic.
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NRA Has No Dog in This Hunt
The National Rifle Association says it’s about defense of the Second Amendment. But more and more, it’s about doing harm to man’s best friend.
