by Devilstower
There's something about slippery slopes that appeals to the right side of the political aisle. You know, those arguments where someone tips their skies past the point of sanity, then shushes right on down. And no one slaloms the slopes of inanity quite like the NRA.
This time, the subject of the NRA's attention is Polar Bears. At the moment, it's illegal to hunt these bears in the United States. However, in some parts of Canada, wealthy US hunters pay $30,000 or more for a guided hunt to get their chance at killing an endangered animal.
During the 1970s, polar bears were hunted down to a few thousand. Their numbers made a comeback during the 80s and early 90s, but in a move that would surely meet with the approval of Stephen Colbert, Republicans did their share to help in solving the polar bear problem. In 1994, they passed one of those lesser known aspects of their Contract On America.
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In 1994, the U.S. passed legislation to allow American hunters to import bears killed in Canada for the first time since 1972. Since the change took effect in 1997, at least 838 polar bear permits have been issued. Sixty-three additional applications are pending this year.
Polar bear pelts fetch big bucks from those who want the macho-points of that skin in front of their fireplace, and polar bear organs garner additional dollars from those who think a little bit of bear parts might help their bare little parts. Fortunately, the bears aren't taking fire from every direction.
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Polar bears have a friend in Sen. Jack Reed. A measure by the Rhode Island Democrat to prevent trophy hunters from killing polar bears abroad and bringing their heads and hides back to the United States was recently approved by a key Senate panel.
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Reed says the bears are rapidly becoming an endangered species. Global warming has made the bears, marine mammals who depend on sea ice for survival, even more vulnerable, he adds.
"We cannot regulate hunting in other nations, but we can help stop the slaughter of these animals by not allowing polar bear imports into the United States," Reed said in a statement. "With the increased threat of global warming, it is essential that we take action to protect these animals."
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Reed says the bears are rapidly becoming an endangered species. Global warming has made the bears, marine mammals who depend on sea ice for survival, even more vulnerable, he adds.
"We cannot regulate hunting in other nations, but we can help stop the slaughter of these animals by not allowing polar bear imports into the United States," Reed said in a statement. "With the increased threat of global warming, it is essential that we take action to protect these animals."
So, a senator introduces a bill to block import of trophies taken from an animal fighting loss of habit and changing climate -- an animal that is already protected in the United States. Now, let's go to the NRA for their traditional measured response.
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Legislation in Congress, backed by extreme animal "rights" groups, would end the process that allows U.S. hunters to import polar bears they sport-hunted in Canada back to the U.S.
While few hunters ever have the opportunity to pursue polar bears, all sportsmen must have their voices heard in this critical matter because this is simply one more step in the anti-hunting lobby's effort to incrementally ban all hunting. If they are allowed to prevail regarding the emotional ban on polar bear imports, they will move on to more commonly hunted game.
Aww. And you thought those poor drowning bear cubs were sad! Mean old Senator Reed is denying folks the pleasure of killing these bears before they're gone. Polar bears today. Quail tomorrow. Soon enough, it'll be illegal to shoot old lawyers in the face.While few hunters ever have the opportunity to pursue polar bears, all sportsmen must have their voices heard in this critical matter because this is simply one more step in the anti-hunting lobby's effort to incrementally ban all hunting. If they are allowed to prevail regarding the emotional ban on polar bear imports, they will move on to more commonly hunted game.
Too bad the NRA doesn't have the same sensible attitude as some of the polar bear hunters.
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Fulcher, who just received his permit to import the 29-year-old male polar bear he killed last year, agreed: "Stopping hunting is not going to bring their habitat back. It's gone anyway. Global warming is happening, but it's from urbanization - not hunting."
See? They're going do die anyway, so why not shoot them, and get some fun out of it?