DEMS PLAN POST-ELECTION BAN ON HUNTING AND FISHING

DEMS PLAN POST-ELECTION BAN ON HUNTING AND FISHING
Singer Prepares "Sportsmen's Bill of Rights" Amendment to Constitution 

            Senator Robert W. Singer (R-Ocean/Burlington/Monmouth/Mercer) called upon legislators of both parties to reject plans to enact legislation that would make New Jersey the first state in the nation to ban all hunting and fishing.

            “I am heartened that hunters and anglers have taken notice of the plan hatched by the Trenton politicians to ban all hunting in New Jersey after the November election.  Their agenda is out in the open and can be seen by anyone who cares to read the words of this dangerous and extreme legislation,” said Singer.

            “They propose to delete language from current law that permits the Fish and Game Council to provide for the use and development of fish and game for ‘public recreation and food supply.’  This language would not only prohibit hunting, but could prevent trout stocking and recreational angling.  This legislation would make New Jersey into an outpost of extremism among the states, where notions of political correctness are allowed to trump decades of sound, science-based and non-partisan wildlife management policies.”

            Worse still, this legislation would remove all the sportsmen and farmers from the Fish and Game Council, and potentially replace them with political hacks whose knowledge of

wildlife policy-making is questionable,” said Singer.  “Hunting on farmland is necessary to protect crops and livestock and this legislation prohibits people in the farming community from serving on the revised council.  The bill will effectively preclude the council from controlling excessive wildlife populations that ruin farmer’s crops and threaten their livestock.”

            “The supporters of this bill have told the news media that first they intend to outlaw the hunting of bears and then all hunting would be next.  Every sportsman in New Jersey should vigorously work to oppose this bill and hold the sponsors of this legislation accountable for their astonishing lack of good judgment,” said Singer.   “When the Legislature reconvenes, I intend to introduce a ‘Sportsmen’s Bill of Rights’ constitutional amendment that will preserve the right of New Jersey residents to hunt and fish.”