Action Alert Update

UPDATE TO ACTION ALERT UPDATE December 31, 2002

See Action Alert Update, December 2002 Action Alert.

UPDATE TO ACTION ALERT UPDATE November 2002:

As suspected, on November 7th, only two days following the general election, HB 5478 is immediately scheduled for second reading to the House floor.

MI House Calendar, Nov 7, 2002, Item #49.

HB 5478
Rep. Cameron Brown Natural resources; hunting; authority to designate species as game; transfer to natural resources commission.
Amends secs. 40103 & 40113a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40103 & 324.40113a) & repeals sec. 40110 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40110).
(Reported by Committee on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation.)
(For proposed House substitute (H-3), see Session Website.)

UPDATE TO ACTION ALERT UPDATE June 2002:

Because of overwhelming opposition to HB 5478 and Rep Tabor's [R-District 71] legislative priority to reintroduce dove shooting legislation, dove shooting proponents and dove shooting lawmakers are presently laying low to avoid the "dove issue" until after the primary and general elections are over...waiting for the lameduck session when lawmakers cannot be held accountable in the voting booth.

While HB 5478 was rushed through the House Outdoor Recreation Committee, it has not been brought to the House floor for a roll call vote...too many constituents knew about it heading into an election year and dove shooting proponents didn't have the votes to pass it at that time. Dove safe lawmakers have told us they are being pushed (right now) by powerful special interests to disregard the voting public majority and support the hunting of mourning doves...or else... We suspect that HB 5478 and/or other dove shooting legislation will be brought up again after the general election in November (probably Thanksgiving weekend, to avoid constituent participation and quickly push it through both House and Senate floors). In the mean time, it is important for voters to assess which candidates represent the majority and are for the continued protection of the mourning dove as a songbird AND which candidates represent special interests and are dove shooting proponents. Candidates who are against the recreational target practice on doves will openly tell you their position, if candidates refuse to "give a position" or they sophistically talk "scientific (hunting) management" they should be considered a dove shooting proponent and/or special interest "representation."

UPDATE TO URGENT ACTION ALERT December 2001:

HB 5478 has been reported out of the House Outdoor Recreation Committee 'with recommendation' and has been referred to the House for 2nd reading status. Reps DeVuyst, Tabor, Bradstreet, Drolet, Kowall, Rocca, Voorhees, Sheltrown voted in favor of moving this deceptive bill forward. Rep William Callahan was the only member of this committee who voted to protect the voting public's right to accountable legislative representation. Reps Basham and Garza did not cast a vote in this record roll call.

To learn more about how a bill becomes law click here.

HB 5478 was on the fast-track when citizens all over the state were called into action alert to help save Michigan's mourning doves from another assault. There is strength in our numbers and the voting public made it loud and clear once again - NO to shooting doves and NO to sneaky backdoor polictics!

The doves received excellent media coverage in every corner of the state and in USA Today.

Although the SPC did not call the membership into a letter to the editor campaign, many concerned citizens of Michigan voiced their opinion in several papers and educated others while doing so.

While HB 5478 is not over, concerned citizens are on the right track - we are well organized, educated on the facts, well informed, and prepared.

YOU are the reason Michigan remains a Dove Safe State. We will keep you posted on the future movement and actions needed on this bill (as it is still considered "live") or any other bill which threatens Michigan's long heritage and tradition of mourning dove protection!

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