Washington Votes Forum

Are California Condors in Washington? I am pretty sure they are not. Why are we writing legislation for the state of California? Maybe Sen. Jacobsen plans to move there.

Washington state was once home to the giant Condor of the Pacific West and while Condors are not in the state currently, they are enganged in a breeding program in Washington's neighboring state- Oregon.  Condors or not, this forward thinking legislation recognizes the link between widlife health and human health and the true cost involved with blanketing our lands with a toxic mettle that filters through our food chain.  California legislation that addresses this issue in light of recent research from Condor poisonings should be recognized for what it is: leadership in connecting the dots for the rest of us who live in the West.

If this bill were to really address "quick thinking" and the issues of lead, it would talk about swans, geese and duck - not a bird that is not even found here. But would that be a tad too sensitive? Hmmm.

"Waterfowel" pretty much sums it up for 'ducks, geese and swans.'  But lead effects everything in the scavanging community including eagels, ravens, crows, vultures, cyotes, bears, lions etc..

Then develop a bill based upon local facts, knowledge and science. Not based upon a bird that lives in the SW states. Oregon has a breeding facility - and that affects us how? I would be more concerned with our swans in Whatcom County, and our turkey vultures. Keep our bills based on local issues.

Moen,

I'm an environmental professional (of over 20 years).  I also am an avid hunter/fisherman and regularly compete in shooting sports.  From playing on both sides of the fence, I can honestly say, that Bill 5095 and the "lead CAP" created by the WDOE, is poorly written and is missing the point.  The simple facts that lead is not a very mobil element in the soil, studies performed have either been poorly conducted or were biased from the beginning.  There is still no solid data that indicates lead shot is actually posing a notable risk to our environment.  If I truely thought this was an issue, I'd stop using lead shot and jump on to the environmental side of things....but it's just not the case.  This appears to be nothing more than an effort to hender the use of firearms.

I'm very disapointed in our State's susposedly "environmental community".  In this particular case, they have chose to ignor facts and have felt compelled to write legislation based on emotion and non-scientific data.  A very disturbing indicator on the direction of our Nation.

Signed,

Ounce&3/8 

 Once & 3/8:

We're not talking about solitary sources of lead in the environment we're talking about mobile sources of lead in meat.  I also hunt and fish and I am not impressed with the NRA's stance on ignoring the effects that lead tainted game meat has on our families.  Don't swollow their fear tactics and misinformation- if they are really for protecting our health and the viability of the land base for our future hunts then they would be articulating the bigger picture of a future without lead.  The market will accomidate the demand and non-toxic amo will eventually become affordable, so why not switch?   

While I agree with you that this bill is somewhat misdirected and should be worked on, I think there is an obvious point to all of this that we can miss while looking at all the details: Lead is a known toxin that people posses a zero % tollerance threshold for- we've gotten it out of our homes and now it is time to get it out of our backyards.     

 I believe there is a greater threat for wildlife by the amount of drugs or residue from drugs that are found in our water sources.