ACTION ALERT: CPW Commission vote on fur ban

[tormenter]

So what’s the next step? Is there any way to stop this?

The best way to stop this is to get a sportsperson in as a Governor! Until then we have to let our State Representatives know we are watching them and whom they appoint to the commission. As long as the Governor has the ability to pick and choose the Commissioners they want our hands are tied. Our State Representatives approved the 6 Polis appointees, and the vote was pure party line except for Dylan Roberts if memory serves me correctly.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

More press surrounding day 2 of the fiasco…..

Parks and Wildlife Commission accepts petition to ban Colorado fur sales in “embarrassing … out of control” meeting

Commissioners voted 6-4 to advance Center for Biological Diversity’s petition to ban commercial fur sales amid public pushback and criticism

coloradosun.com

 

[COEngineer]

More press surrounding day 2 of the fiasco…..

Parks and Wildlife Commission accepts petition to ban Colorado fur sales in “embarrassing … out of control” meeting

Commissioners voted 6-4 to advance Center for Biological Diversity’s petition to ban commercial fur sales amid public pushback and criticism

coloradosun.com

Does CRWM have the funding and is there a legal path to fight this and future commission decisions? The commission is a total sham right now - not a single legitimate hunter, the outfitter rep has never outfitted a day in her life, the governor has directly worked against the department...I could go on, but are any of these things actually illegal?

 

[SAJ-99]

Cheaper to just send respectful messages expressing your concerns here.

Michael Bennet for Governor | A Brighter Future & Opportunity for All

Michael believes that, as Americans, we have a responsibility to build opportunity for one another and the next generation. This core belief informed Michael’s work as the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools and, for the last sixteen years, as Colorado’s U.S. Senator.

www.michaelbennet.com

 

[winmag]

More press surrounding day 2 of the fiasco…..

Parks and Wildlife Commission accepts petition to ban Colorado fur sales in “embarrassing … out of control” meeting

Commissioners voted 6-4 to advance Center for Biological Diversity’s petition to ban commercial fur sales amid public pushback and criticism

coloradosun.com

Nice quote in there:

“I’ve seen better demonstrations of parliamentary procedure and objectivity in the average 4-H meeting,” he said. “Your actions and behavior yesterday did more to destroy trust than any single action in the history of the CPW or this commission.”

 

[trb]

Anyone want to submit a petition to require the commission follow recommendations from CPW?

I talked to a high level CPW employee last night about this topic who I will keep anonymous. This is basically impossible since it would remove the whole spirit of the commission, which is open democratic debate. Yes, I am well aware of the irony.

I would encourage anyone interested in this issue to read the statute on it.

The vague language in the statute is what allows the appointment gymnastics which have allowed unqualified candidates to be appointed. For example, one could buy a fishing license, never fish, and still be appointed within the current parameters as representative of sportsmen. A petition could potentially make that requirement more robust by shifting the language:

Current:
"Three members who are sports persons who can demonstrate a reasonable knowledge of wildlife issues and who have obtained a hunting or fishing license for at least each of the three years prior to their appointments."

Proposed change:
"Three members who are sports persons who actively participate in hunting or fishing in Colorado and who have held a valid Colorado hunting or fishing license for at least five of the previous seven years, including the year immediately preceding appointment. These members shall demonstrate a history of participation in wildlife conservation, wildlife management, or sportsmen’s organizations and shall represent the interests of Colorado hunters and anglers."

The same is true for the outfitter seat:

Current:
"One of the members appointed pursuant to this subsection must be an outfitter registered pursuant to article 145 of title 12."

Proposed:
"One of the members appointed pursuant to this subsection must be a currently licensed and actively operating outfitter registered pursuant to article 145 of title 12 who has provided outfitting services in Colorado for no fewer than five years prior to appointment."

Potential addition to the statute that is missing:

"In making appointments to the commission, the governor shall ensure that license holders who contribute to the funding of the division through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses are meaningfully represented among the voting members of the commission."

None of this is perfect, just my thoughts. What has got us in this hot water is bad faith appointments, and when laws and statutes are vague or poorly defined, it leaves open opportunities for abuse. If we were to organize a petition, this seems like a potential focus for it.

 

[Carnage2011]

@elkduds Did you attend? Any feedback?