The Vermont Statehouse is called "The
People's House" not just because it is the seat of the
legislative branch of state government, but also because it functions
as a living museum and is open to the public. Every day during the
legislative session, groups representing one interest or another
visit with displays and information and talk to legislators
one-on-one as well as testify in committees. One such group that
visited last week were Vermonters representing the Humane Society.
They were there to support six bills regarding the humane treatment
of animals that have been introduced in the House and Senate. The
bills include adequately sheltering dogs and cats kept outdoors
(H.512), banning the use of lead ammunition when hunting (H.460),
prohibiting the use of gestation crates for pregnant sows (H.374),
prohibiting the possession, sale and distribution of shark fins
(H.122), prohibiting the docking the tail of a cow (S.22), and
restricting the sale of ivory and rhino horn products (H.297). While
most of these bills have had committee hearings, H.297, the ivory
bill, seems to be generating the most interest and is likely to be
voted out of the Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee soon.
There are a number of reasons this bill is moving forward: threat of
species extinction, connection of trade to terrorism, and connecting
interstate and intrastate requirements among others.
African elephants and rhinoceroses are
in danger of being hunted to extinction solely for their tusks and
horns. The numbers of African elephants have declined from around 4
million in the 1940s to about 350,000 today. While such hunting is
illegal under the laws of African nations and the ivory and rhino
horn trade is prohibited at the international level as well as by
U.S. law, there is a thriving black market that funds terrorist
groups and other criminal organizations. The only hope for the
animal species is to try to shut down the market through legal
efforts and education. The Endangered Species Act regulates the
interstate trade of ivory in the U.S. and includes a proposal to
allow only limited types of ivory products to be sold across state
lines. It does not regulate sales of ivory or ivory products within a
state. H.297 would apply similar restrictions to sales of ivory
within Vermont.
H.297 does not prohibit simple
possession of ivory. However, it would prohibit the sale of ivory or
ivory products with some exceptions. For example, the sale of
antiques as defined by federal requirements and of items weighing
less than 200 grams, roughly 7 ounces, would not be prohibited.
These conditions would allow the sale of most musical instruments,
including pianos with ivory keys.
Among the visitors at the Humane
Society reception in the statehouse cafeteria last week was a
Charlotte student, Taegen Yardley, who attends Vermont Commons School
in South Burlington. Taegen and several classmates produced a film
about the illegal ivory trade and spoke to the attendees at the
reception. The film can be seen at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRM6y3XnezE#t=144.
H.297 will have my support when it comes to the floor.
Finally, Town Meeting Day is March 1st
and includes the Presidential Primary in Vermont. I want to remind
high school seniors that if they will turn 18 before the November
election they are allowed to register and vote in the primary. Anyone
who needs to register to vote can do so online at
https://olvr.sec.state.vt.us/.
I welcome your thoughts and can be
reached by phone (802-233-5238) or by email
(myantachka.dfa@gmail.com).
Legislative Report 2/8/2016 - Of Elephants and Rhinos
