Feature Report: Anti-Hunting Bill Passes

Anti-hunting dog bill passes California Senate Western Outdoor NewsPublished: May 24, 2012

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SACRAMENTO — California Senate Bill 1221, a bill that will ban the use of hounds to hunt black bears and bobcats, passed the state’s Senate on Monday, May 21. The passage of SB 1221 by the senate casts a dark cloud over the future of all hunting and wildlife management in California. Senate Bill 1221 passed with a vote of 22 in favor and 15 against. The bill, which is sponsored by the radical animal rights group Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), triggered a strong outpouring of opposition from California sportsmen and women, plus sportsmen’s organizations, in the state and nationwide. The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) denounced this retaliatory wildlife management bill that was created when HSUS could not have a state game commissioner removed for his legal mountain lion hunt. As the bill moved forward from introduction and through the hearing process, hundreds of opponents wearing orange “NO on SB 1221” buttons also packed the corridors of the capital to let their Senators know they opposed this anti-hunting bill. “The California Senate today chose retribution and revenge over sound science-based wildlife management,” explained Evan Heusinkveld, USSA’s director of state services. “Despite having a Fish and Game Commission explicitly designed to handle these questions free from the politics of the statehouse, the California Senate voted in favor of a hunting ban.” USSA has been working with the Masters of Foxhounds Association, California Houndsmen for Conservation and the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance to defeat SB 1221. HSUS has stated that they intend to end all hunting in California, and that they are against hunting pheasants, chukar and quail on game bird clubs, so it is widely suspected that passage of SB 1221 will be followed up with subsequent legislation to ban hunting with all dogs, including setters, pointers and retrievers, as is there is virtually no difference in what they do. SB 1221 now must go through some committee votes, then to the full Assembly, then to the governor for his signature. Anyone involved in the outdoors is strongly urged to send comments to those who voted “yes” on the bill condemning them for the action, and to send support letters to those who voted against the bill. Following is a list of how the State Senators voted: Who voted how on California SB1221 The vote was 22 in favor and 15 opposed. Two Republicans voted Yes, 11 voted No, 2 did not vote. Twenty Democrats voted Yes, 4 voted No, 1 did not vote. Here is the breakdown of how each Senator voted: Senators Voting YES: Senator Elaine Alquist (D-13) – YES Senator Ron Calderon (D-30) – YES Senator Ellen Corbett (D-10) – YES Senator Kevin de León (D-22) – YES Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-07) – YES Senator Bill Emmerson (R-37) – YES Senator Loni Hancock (D-09) – YES Senator Ed Hernandez (D-24) – YES Senator Christine Kehoe (D-39) – YES Senator Mark Leno (D-03) – YES Senator Ted Lieu (D-28) – YES Senator Carol Liu (D-21) – YES Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-27) – YES Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-32) – YES Senator Alex Padilla (D-20) – YES Senator Fran Pavley (D-23) – YES Senator Curren D. Price, Jr. (D-26) – YES Senator Joe Simitian (D-11) – YES Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-06) – YES Senator Tony Strickland (R-19) – YES Senator Juan Vargas (D-40) – YES Senator Leland Y. Yee (D-08) – YES Senators Voting NO: Senator Joel Anderson (R-36) – NO Senator Tom Berryhill (R-14) – NO Senator Sam Blakeslee (R-15) – NO Senator Anthony Cannella (R-12) – NO Senator Bob Dutton (R-31) – NO Senator Noreen Evans (D-02) – NO Senator Jean Fuller (R-18) – NO Senator Ted Gaines (R-01) – NO Senator Bob Huff (R-29) – NO Senator Doug La Malfa (R-04) – NO Senator Michael Rubio (D-16) – NO Senator Mimi Walters (R-33) – NO Senator Lois Wolk (D-05) – NO Senator Roderick D. Wright (D-25) – NO Senator Mark Wyland (R-38) – NO Senators That Did Not Vote: Senator Lou Correa (D-34) – Did Not Vote Senator Tom Harman (R-35) – Did Not Vote Senator Sharon Runner (R-17) – Did Not Vote