PROPOSITION 197 IS A FRAUD.
Proposition 197 legalizes trophy hunting of mountain lions, while the words ``sport or trophy hunting'' are cleverly omitted from the measure. IN 1990 THE VOTERS PASSED A BAN ON THE TROPHY HUNTING OF MOUNTAIN LIONS.
Proposition 197 backers know that if voters understand that this measure legalizes the sport hunting of mountain lions, it will lose. So, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Gun Owners of California, and the Safari Club International carefully crafted a measure that never mentions legalizing sport hunting.
Nevertheless, the Safari Club's recent November newsletter told its members the real story:``Sport hunting can resume. Under Section 1801, the department [of Fish and Game] can propose and the Fish and Game Commission can adopt regulations to allow the sport hunting of mountain lions.''Proposition 197 proponents want you to think this measure has something to do with keeping mountain lions out of urban areas. It doesn't. If these 13 words were written into Proposition 197, we could support it:``Nothing in this measure legalizes the sport or trophy hunting of mountain lions.''We support Fish and Game doing what it should have done five years ago: prepare a mountain lion management plan, identifying those regions that have mountain lion problems, and take steps to address those problems.
Proposition 197 backers opposed legislation that would create a management plan, clarify existing law about when a mountain lion can be killed, and CONTINUE THE BAN ON SPORT HUNTING OF MOUNTAIN LIONS FIRST SIGNED INTO LAW IN 1972 BY GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN.
Top bureaucrats in the Department of Fish and Game and the NRA are playing a game of ``chicken'' with the public. The bureaucrats are dragging their feet in enforcing existing law that requires them to kill mountain lions ``perceived to be an imminent threat'' to any person, until they get the nearly $3 million they say they need to do their job. The NRA, the Gun Owners, and Safari Club oppose any clarification of law or additional funds for management unless sport or trophy hunting is legalized. That's political blackmail.
OPPOSE PROPOSITION 197.
Hunting mountain lions for sport is cruel and unnecessary. A pack of radio collared hounds is set on the trail of the big cat until the exhausted lion seeks refuge in a tree. The trophy hunter (who often is called in from out-of-state after paying huge fees to the houndsmen) then drives in to blast the lion off the limb at point blank range. When nursing mothers are shot, the kittens starve. Often, the head is severed from the carcass and becomes the ``trophy''--stuffed and put on a wall.
THIS IS NOT SPORT; IT IS SLAUGHTER!
Send the Legislature a clear message: We don't want trophy hunting of lions legalized! We want mountain lions managed like any other wildlife resource.
Proposition 197 cleverly legalizes sport hunting of mountain lions.
JOIN WITH THE SIERRA CLUB--
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 197.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE GUN OWNERS' LOBBYISTS.
HENRY MELLO
State Senator, Watsonville
MAURICE H. GETTY
President, California Park Rangers Association
WAYNE PACELLE
Vice President of Government Affairs
Humane Society of the U.S.