Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 17:03:29 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Steve Huy Subject: (no subject) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit While the following (message copied below) may not seem like a subject related to Maryland birds or birding I feel it should be brought to your attention. I ended up on this group's mailing list courtesy of MOS. The proposed trap ban may have an effect on ornithology in Maryland. This ban may seem like a good idea to many of us, but consider the following: 1) The legislation for this proposed ban has been submitted in many states and will likely continue to be resubmitted until approved. 2) The legislation is pushed by extremist animal rights groups 3) The legislation is vaguely worded to encompass more than just steel jaw leg hold traps, but any leg or body gripping trap. 4) "Leg hold" traps include harmless traps commonly used by ornithologists to trap some bird species, including raptors, for valid research - these are not ogists to excluded in bills supporting this ban 5) "Body gripping" traps can include mistnets and other nets sed by ornithlogists - these are also not excluded I find the tactics of MAGIC misleading, disgusting and disgraceful. But it is an excellent example of what a lobbyist might accomplish if we don't do a bit of research on their claims. I wonder if all the named supporters are truly anti-ornithology. I am assuming, with this support of a ban, that a bill similar to that introduced last year will appear again. Before offering your support, be sure to read it with consideration for the implications of its vague wording if it is a repeat of last year's. Steve Huy Middletown, MD ********************************* Subj: Ban Leghold Traps