Dear Citizens of New York State,
Excelsior – your state motto meaning “ever upward” is indeed an admirable goal. But it is one that cannot be achieved when you have senators who are attempting to pass a bill that’s only height is that of its ignorance.
This nonsensical bill that Senator Luis R. Sepulveda has sponsored and Senator Jose M. Serrano has co-sponsored is New York State Senate Bill S2814, the “Big Five African Trophies Act”.
This bill aims to ban the importation, transportation and possession of certain African wildlife species and products. In its opening sentence, the bill is immediately rendered impotent, as the importation of any parts of any legally hunted animal is under federal jurisdiction, not state. And federal law supersedes state law. Not just in New York, but every state in the Union. One would hope that a senator (or anyone hoping to influence legislation) would not only know that, but would feel irresponsible creating bills in ignorance or dismissal of that fact.
Secondly, the bill misidentifies who exactly the “Big Five” are, claiming that it will apply to lions, leopards, elephants, black rhinos, white rhinos, and giraffes. Which is actually six, not five.
The real Big Five are lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and African buffalo. Due to this basic error and so many more, this bill would be more appropriately named – the “Senatorial Sham Six African Trophies Act”. The bill claims that importing, possessing, selling and /or transporting parts of their misidentified “Big Five” -actually six – is detrimental to the survival of these species.
These claims directly oppose scientific evidence that is utilized to set regulated hunting quotas by the African countries these animals occur in, scientific evidence that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service scrutinizes when approving imports based upon either non-detrimental OR enhancement findings, and scientific findings that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature acknowledge when they determine the status of any species.
But who would expect senators who apparently can’t even count or identify African animals correctly to know that such thoughtful, science-based considerations are employed by multiple organizations and governmental bodies who actually do have expertise in the field of wildlife conservation? Especially when whomever wrote the bill they are trying to pass didn’t even discern between legal hunting and poaching, and goes on to claim that if legal hunting decreases the illegal poaching (redundant terminology at its best since poaching is, by definition, illegal), then that is erroneous logic detrimental to the survival of these animals.
Hmmm. Permitting legal, regulated hunting that gives these animals legitimate value to not only allow people to utilize them as a valuable, renewable, sustainable natural resource, but also gives incentive to African countries and their residents to maintain wildlife habitat to support these species in perpetuity is illogical and erroneous?
Decreasing poaching, which is the illegal, unregulated, indiscriminate take of these animals is illogical and erroneous? It’s not illogical or erroneous at all.
It’s reality and it’s necessary. What is illogical and erroneous is why any senators would think that any of the constituents they represent who are capable of logical thinking would think that this bill is anything but manipulative misinformation that is not only highly erroneous but is powerless and meaningless as well.
Equating legal activities with illegal ones is also disingenuous and illogical. Interestingly enough, this bill contains a provision stating that it would still be permissible for these animal parts to be imported for museum displays. According to this “logic” that the bill put forth, which blames legal hunting for increasing both poaching and the decline of these animals, then so too, must we apparently blame collecting for museums?
Does this bill live up to New York state’s excelsior motto? Legislative language requires a level of precision and accuracy, a height that these senators and the legislators who are supporting their bill, have definitely not attained. Particularly shameful considering that this bill has existed in various versions since 2015, and has been referred to the Environmental Conservation committee in the state senate twice now. How many people have read this bill thus far, over the span of six or more years and failed to correct or even recognize the inaccuracies within? People who, as part of their duties in governmental positions should be working on legislation that is in the best interest of the citizens they represent.
One would hope that the citizens of the state of New York, regardless of how they might feel, personally, about legal hunting activities in Africa, and the subsequent importation of animal parts obtained in such legal manners, do not, universally, feel that their elected senators should be wasting time, money and efforts on inane, impotent, illogical and inaccurate bills such as S2814.
Nor should one hope that the citizens of New York state elected representatives because they wanted them to falsely claim that legal, regulated activities reinforce illegal ones, and are willing to write and promote bills that are rife with untruths.
Citizens of New York state, excelsior! Ever upward, in your quest for excellence and a stronger, better future, as your state motto proclaims. It can only be obtained by incorporating your recent addition of e pluribus unum. Out of many, one. Out of many claims, accept only the truth. $2814 is not the truth.
