Dear Virginia Friends,
There’s a bill scheduled for a floor vote tomorrow, February 14 that you need to help defeat, Sen. Stuart’s SB26, Authority of conservation police officers.
Sen. Stuart has wildly attacked the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and wildlife conservation enforcement regulation generally in five (5) separate bills this session. The patron’s motivation appears to be based on a personal encounter with DGIF conservation police enforcing waterfowl regulations, but that isn’t the point. He is abusing his office and such efforts should be totally rebuffed. SB26 is the only one of the five to make it to the Senate floor.
SB26 emasculates DGIF’s law enforcement function by forbidding DGIF personnel from checking hunting and fishing licenses or game bags. These game law enforcement men and women put their lives on the line and shouldn’t be neutered or the subjects of a senator’s personal pique.
SB26 rewards cheaters and scofflaws. This bill is bad law and an insult to all Virginia sportsmen and woman, wildlife lovers and conservationists.
ACTION REQUEST: ASAP and before Noon, Tuesday 2/14, contact your senator and ask him or her to VOTE NO on SB26. Include your complete mailing address.
If you don’t know your senator or haven’t the necessary email info, visit http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform fill-in your address and click through to the message page
Sincerely,
Bob Kane, Chairman Emeritus
Virginia Hunting Dog Owners’ Association
Sportsmen and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance
