[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17460]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NRA SUPPORT FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE CONTROL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 2003

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr Speaker, I have, somewhat famously, opposed 
H.R. 1472, a bill which attempts to single out bears as a species to be 
managed by the House of Representatives instead of local wildlife 
experts. I believe this bill is a ``one size fits all'' attempt at 
government, inappropriately taking local control away and nullifying 
local expertise. I am not alone on my position against this bill. I 
would therefore like to submit for the Record the following letter from 
the National Rifle Association, which explains their opposition to the 
bill as well.

                                                        June 2003.
       Dear Representative: As the leading voice for millions of 
     American gun-owners and hunters, the National Rifle 
     Association wishes to advise you of our opposition to H.R. 
     1472, the ``Don't Feed the Bears Act of 2003.'' This 
     legislation would prohibit the use of bait in bear hunting on 
     all federal lands.
       Although H.R. 1472 addresses one method of bear hunting, 
     the real issue here is about who manages resident wildlife. 
     H.R. 1472 opens the door to federal preemption of the rights 
     of the fifty states to manage resident wildlife, including 
     establishing the means and methods of hunting in a safe and 
     ethical manner. The NRA is unalterably opposed to such 
     federal infringement.
       Congress has passed legislation giving the Federal 
     government management authority over certain categories of 
     wildlife which it felt required a national focus: migratory 
     birds, marine mammals, and endangered and threatened species. 
     At no time in its history has Congress selected an individual 
     species for federal management. H.R. 1472 sets this unwise 
     precedent.
       This legislation is being advocated by organizations 
     opposed to all methods of hunting, not just the use of bait 
     in bear hunting. Nothing could better achieve their goal of 
     ending hunting in the United States than a bill that 
     federalizes wildlife management. Rather than having to 
     promote their views in each of the fifty states, the anti-
     hunting community is seeking to have Congress preempt the 
     field.
       Those states that allow the use of bait in hunting do so 
     because they have concluded that it is a humane method of 
     hunting, that it meets the ethical standard of ``fair 
     chase,'' and that it is a necessary tool for management of 
     their bear populations. H.R. 1472 places Congress in the 
     position of being a wildlife biologist, making decisions for 
     states on how certain wildlife populations must be managed. 
     If Congress were to adopt this legislation, it would be 
     placing itself in the position of having to address every 
     issue pertaining to wildlife management, not just one method 
     of bear hunting.
       The NRA strongly urges you to oppose H.R. 1472 because of 
     its attempt to preempt the authority of the states to manage 
     resident wildlife. If you are a cosponsor of the bill, we 
     urge that you reconsider your support for it.
       Thank you for your consideration of our views on this 
     important issue.
           Sincerely,

                                                 Chris W. Cox,

                                               Executive Director,
     NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

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