This "News Release" showed up in my inbox late this afternoon... should be of interest to Minnesota upland hunters. Who says contacting your lawmakers can't bring about positive results? Thanks to everyone who made their voices heard!
**********************************************
NEWS RELEASE
State Senator Satveer Chaudhary
205 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
E-mail: sen.satveer.chaudhary@senate.mn
Phone: 651-296-4334
April 16, 2008
Sen. Chaudhary: More study needed before banning lead shot in Minnesota
State Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, the chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, said that further study is needed before the governor and DNR Commissioner Holsten’s proposal to ban lead shot moves forward in Minnesota. Sen. Chaudhary offered an amendment to remove the DNR proposal from his Omnibus Environment Policy Bill (S.F. 3385), which passed on a voice vote.
Chaudhary’s amendment also instructs the DNR to study the matter in further detail before implementation of a ban.
“The evidence I’ve seen relating to lead shot primarily addresses wetlands and waterfowl, but not much on upland game,” said Sen. Chaudhary. “There is fair indication that toxic shot does affect some animals, but before we make this big decision, we need to study specific impacts on upland game, such as pheasant, grouse and rabbits.
The DNR’s proposal has not considered these impacts, let alone impacts on the land itself, the economic impact, disposal of unused shells, whether tungsten and bismuth aren’t equally harmful, and the time needed for some hunters to get new guns.” He further noted that the administration’s bill did not coincide with the DNR’s own 2006 Nontoxic Shot Advisory Committee Report.
Sen. Chaudhary made it clear that he supports the ban on toxic shot for waterfowl and managed dove fields, since many studies have shown harmful effects, but said that studies on specific upland game, such as pheasants, grouse and rabbits are sparse. “I was led to believe this homework was done. Not to mention what effect a ban might have on the thousands of Minnesota jobs that deal directly and indirectly with outdoor industries.” He noted that Federal Cartridge in Anoka employs roughly one thousand people, and more than one-fourth of those jobs are directly related to the production and distribution of lead shot ammunition.
Sen. Chaudhary said, “When we are considering a big change like this, it’s fair to pause and make sure our information is on point. I was under the impression that the ‘experts’ in the DNR had done this.”
For more information on Sen. Chaudhary’s position on the proposed lead shot ban, contact his State Capitol office at 651-296-4334.
***********************************
