Hunting/Trapping Amendments Defeated
 

A Hunting and Ban the trap amendment was defeated tonight (5/2) on a voice vote. 

To: House Bill No. 5210, "AN ACT CONCERNING REGIONAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY JURISDICTION. "

In line 7, after "municipalities. " insert the following "An authority may not permit hunting or trapping on watershed lands. "
After line 11, insert the following:
"Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2002) No person shall use, sell or manufacture any leghold or padded leghold trap in the state. "

Testifying in favor of the amendment were the Proponent Rep. Bernhard (R-Westport), Rep. Mary Mushinsky (D- Wallingford) who promoted Beaver Baffles rather than trapping and said exclusion devices was the answer not killing. She said there has been "various reports of cats, dogs and an occasional kid caught in the traps" in her district. Rep Megna (D-New Haven) said he was a trapper and there were many other devices more humane that trappers could use and that it was time to rid the state of this device. All these were either personal opinion or anecdotal - NONE based upon any documentation. Opponents most vocal were Rep Craig Minor (R- Litchfield) who spoke for both hunters and trappers; John Mordasky (D- Stafford) who spoke for farmers and trappers; and Rep. Phil Prelli (R-Winsted) who stated hunters used MDC land in his district with the support of MDC and he was also against any ban. The voice vote was strongly opposed to the amendment. 

Rep Megna mentioned to me afterwards there were still plenty of vehicles to amend - more ban/restrict trapping/hunting amendments may be forthcoming, but it is unlikely they will prove productive except to further undermine the credibility of the proponents. Rep. Bernhard claimed his amendment would strengthen the underlying bill, but most legislators know that there would be a multitude of amendments proposed by CCS which procedurally and with limited time left would effectively kill a good bill. One proponent said he had been asking for a public hearing on the trapping issue - we have the facts and would welcome that also. 

****

4/30: We have been working hard to initiate a public/information hearing next year on Trapping, bringing the various experts to CT on the International Program for Trapping Best management Practices (a study currently in progress to evaluate all trap devices); DEP wildlife biologists; and biologists from MA and other states where trapping is restricted to present impacts. The possibility looks promising. This may be one reason for the frenzied attack we've witnessed (and will probably continue) - they don't want the committee/others to get the facts. NOTE: The Search portion also affects Hunters. We urge you to call your legislators and ask them to allow the public hearing process before making decisions. The following is a letter from the CT Trappers Assoc sent/ad received by legislators on 4/30:

Dear Representative ----------------,

In anticipation of a possible amendment to ban the foothold trap being introduced into the General Assembly during the last days of the 2002 session, this letter and three highly informative pieces of literature; TRAPPING IN CONNECTICUT by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, TRAPPING AND FURBEARER MANAGEMENT, and WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND TRAPPING by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies are being sent to you to explain why such an amendment SHOULD NOT BE DEBATED, LET ALONE PASSED. 

 

The following are logical sound reasons for not passing the amendment:

 

1.       THE FOOTHOLD TRAP ISSUE HAS NOT HAD A LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING IN MANY YEARS.

 

2.       THE FOOTHOLD TRAP IS A NECESSARY TOOL IN ASSISTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. (Witness the increasing population of coyotes and beaver in the state.)

 

3.       THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES IS CONDUCTING A FIVE-YEAR STUDY ENTITLED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR TRAPPING WILDLIFE IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

4.       THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS VERY SPECIFIC REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE SIZE, THE TYPE AND THE USE OF FOOTHOLD TRAPS.

 

5.       FIRST TIME TRAPPERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE A DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TRAPPER TRAINING COURSE TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH TRAPPING LAWS AND THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF WILDLIFE. 

 

PLEASE take time to read the brief pamphlet, TRAPPING IN CONNECTICUT by the DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. 

 

Thank you for your consideration on this matter. 

 

Sincerely, George Finch

President, Connecticut Trappers Association
****

5/1. We don't expect these amendments below to be ruled germane to the underlying bill(s). NOTE the continued attack on Hunters also. OPPOSE. Call your legislators.

General Assembly Amendment

Offered by:REP. BERNHARD, 136th Dist. To: Subst. House Bill No.5692"AN ACT CONCERNING FIREARMS AND FAMILY VIOLENCE." 

After line 51, insert the following:
"Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2002) Any person convicted of a crime that is designated as a conviction involving domestic violence, as provided in section 46b-38h of the general statutes, shall forfeit any hunting or trapping permit, license or registration issued to such person pursuant to chapter 490 of the general statutes. Notwithstanding section 4-182 of the general statutes, such hunting or trapping permit, license or registration shall be void upon such conviction and shall be surrendered to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's authorized agent. Such permit, license or registration and such person's privilege to obtain any such permit, license or registration shall not be restored or reinstated by the commissioner. The commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent may confiscate any firearm or other weapon or implement used for hunting, or any trap or other implement used for trapping, belonging to or in the possession of any such person.
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2002) No person shall use, sell or manufacture any leghold or padded leghold trap in this state. "

****

General Assembly Amendment

Offered by: REP. BERNHARD, 136th Dist., To: Subst. House Bill No. 5532, "AN ACT REQUIRING REDUCTION IN GLARE AND LIGHT POLLUTION FROM PRIVATE AREA FLOODLIGHTING LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE RIGHT-OF-WAY. "

After line 52, insert the following:
"Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2002) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, any light used for the purpose of jacklighting, as described in section 26-82 of the general statutes, shall be subject to the provisions of section 1 of this act. No person shall use, sell or manufacture any leghold or padded leghold trap in the state. "

General Assembly Amendment

Offered by: REP. BERNHARD, 136th Dist., To: House Bill No. 5521"AN ACT CONCERNING SEARCH WARRANTS. "

After line 38, add the following:
"Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2002) Any conservation officer or special conservation officer, as defined in section 26-5 of the general statutes, who has reason to believe that a person, while in the presence of such officer, is engaged in hunting or trapping in violation of part IV of chapter 490 of the general statutes and is in possession of a hunting or trapping device, the possession of which is prohibited by law, may, without a warrant, search such person and seize such device.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2002) No person shall use, sell or manufacture any leghold or padded leghold trap in this state. "

****

4/29: A trapping amendment was attempted by Representative Bernhard (R-Westport) onto Substitute for S. B. No. 592 (RAISED) (File No. 283) AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF CONNECTICUT FISHERIES. (As amended by Senate Amendment Schedules "A" and "B").

Representative Bernhard of the 136th who offered House Amendment Schedule "A" (LCO 4093) and moved its adoption.

After line 27, insert the following:

"Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2002) No person shall use, sell or manufacture any leghold or padded leghold trap in the state. "

Representative Godfrey of the 110th raised a Point of Order that the amendment was not germane. [Godfrey said essentially that "fish don't have legs."]

The Speaker ruled the Point of Order was well taken. [The amendment was killed, but Bernhard said "We'll be back."] 

On a roll call vote Senate Bill No. 592 as amended by Senate Amendment Schedules "A" and "B" was passed in concurrence with the Senate. [PASSED]