CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION REJECTS EXPANSION OF LEAD AMMO BAN

HISTORY:
The National Rifle Association and California Rifle and Pistol Association have been working tirelessly to oppose the schemes of the anti-hunters, anti-gunners, and radical environmental activists that would ban the use of traditional ammunition by responsible hunters and sportsmen. 

Examples of our lead ban alerts can be found at: HERE and HERE and most recently HERE.  More information related to this issue can be found at: http://www.calnra.com/newsbriefs/CondorPapers.htm and mixed throughout the political satire and commentary found in News Briefs .

Although proponents of the current ban in the "Condor Zone" have wanted lead ammunition banned state-wide, they have not been able to achieve that goal.  So they began an incremental approach by attempting to expand the scope of the ban within the "Condor Zone."

SCIENCE OR ANTI-GUN SCARE TACTICS:
There is no scientific evidence that lead ammunition is the source of lead affecting the health of condors released to the wild.  There is no scientific evidence that lead ammunition is a risk to human health and the environment in California.  What is evident is that there are a group of special interests who will not stop until the most affordable, available, and balistically superior ammunition available is banned in our state.  If that were to happen they know the damage it will do to hunting and shooting participation. 

CURRENT SITUATION:
On Thursday, August 6, 2009, the California Fish and Game Commission met to consider adoption of the Proposed Resident Small Game & Migratory Upland Game Lead Ammunition Ban in the Condor Zone.

If passed, this would have banned the possession and/or use of traditional ammunition, containing lead, in the area of California designated as the “Condor Zone” by Assembly Bill 821 in 2007.

AB 821 and the resulting regulations were passed as a result of the so-called “Church Study” wherein its authors/proponents claimed that lead ammunition is the primary cause of lead poisoning for the few remaining California Condors. This highly specious document is the basis of much of the rhetoric of the anti-hunting extremists who claim that they have “scientific facts” on their side. Reliance upon such data by legislative and regulatory bodies has been of great concern to legitimate hunters and sportsmen throughout California and in other states as well.

A coalition of hunters, firearms owners, sportsmen, activists, conservation groups and associations came together to oppose the proposed expansion of the ammunition ban. This group, led by the National Rifle Association (NRA), included the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA), the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA), the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), activists from Internet forum Calguns.net (CGN), and others.

The team’s presentation at the hearing was coordinated by attorney Chuck Michel of Michel & Associates, P.C. Their presentations were made in both written and verbal form and the points made could not be reasonably refuted after our overwhelming evidence was presented. In short, our team presented data to prove that the "Church Study" was wrong when the authors wrote it, and it is still wrong today!

NRA-ILA California State Liaison Ed Worley and CRPA Legislative Liaison Tom Pederson did fantastic jobs representing our associations in a very positive manner. COHA’s Bill Gaines also presented his thoughtful and rational positions quite well. We must also recognize the expert presentations of Dr. Erik Randich, Dr. Don Saba, Anthony Canales, and others. Based upon these presentations, we should all be proud!

Because of scheduling allotments, speaking time was a critical factor at the hearing. Time limits had been imposed on the presenters and the only way to receive an extra minute was to have another person "cede" their time to you. That extra minute made the maximum possible time for presentation four minutes each.

Four minutes does not seem like a lot of time, but when you only have three minutes to start with -- that extra minute means quite a bit. So, the presentation had to be planned-out in advance. And that's what was done.

But where did those extremely valuable minutes come from????

They came from members of our team who did not make a presentation. These good folks in attendance gave their time to others on our team. It was truly a team effort.

Without everyone doing their part and working together we could not have won. And don't forget all of those calls, letters, emails and faxes. They made a tremendous difference for our side.

After examining the evidence from both sides of this controversial issue, the California Fish and Game Commission voted 4 – 1 not to expand the ban of traditional lead ammunition in the area known as the “Condor Zone.”

In short, this vote was a victory for firearms owners, hunters, sportsmen, and most of all common sense.

Although it is now time to celebrate, we will not let our guard down. This effort has many more battles to come.

Thank you for all of your help.

If you would like to view the actual testimony and commentary of the hearing, you should watch Agenda Item 12 of the August 6, 2009 CA Fish & Game Commission Hearing at: http://www.cal-span.org/cgi-bin/media.pl?folder=CFG Hopefully it will help you understand what is occurring, while addressing the concern you raised in your question.

Now its time to follow-up on this hearing and contact the Fish and Game Commission and thank them for their vote.