thanks

Oh Jimmy, please tell me again of your love for the democrat party.

This should be a sticky at the top of the page.

"H. R. 8828

To restrict the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and Conibear traps on animals in the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 2, 2020
Ms. Adams (for herself and Mrs. Lowey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL
To restrict the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and Conibear traps on animals in the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act”.

SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States to reduce risks to public safety, as well as unnecessary harm to companion animals and wildlife, from indiscriminate and injurious trapping methods by prohibiting the import or export of, and the shipment in interstate commerce of, steel-jaw leghold traps and Conibear traps.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES.

(a) Prohibited Acts.—It shall be unlawful for any person—

(1) to import, export, deliver, carry, or transport by any means whatever, in interstate commerce, any steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap; or

(2) to sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap that was delivered, carried, or transported in violation of paragraph (1).

(b) Penalties.—Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a) shall, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, be subject to the following:

(1) For the first such violation, a civil fine of not more than $500 imposed by the Secretary for each steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap possessed.

(2) For each subsequent violation, a civil fine of not more than $1,000 imposed by the Secretary for each steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap possessed, or imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both.

(c) Payment Of Court Costs And Other Associated Expenses.—A person found to be in violation of subsection (a) shall pay all court costs associated therewith.

SEC. 4. REWARDS.

(a) General Rule.—The Secretary shall pay, to any person who furnishes information that leads to a conviction of a violation of any provision of this Act or any rule made under this Act, an amount equal to one-half of the fine paid pursuant to the conviction.

(b) Exception.—Any officer or employee of the United States or of any State or local government who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of his or her official duties is not eligible for payment under this section.

SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.

(a) In General.—Except with respect to violations of this Act to which subsection (b) applies, this Act and any rules made under this Act shall be enforced by the Secretary, who may use by agreement, with or without reimbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any other Federal agency or any State agency for purposes of enforcing this Act and such rules.

(b) Import And Export Violations.—

(1) IMPORT VIOLATIONS.—The importation of articles in violation of section 3(a) shall be treated as a violation of the customs laws of the United States, and those provisions of law relating to violations of the customs laws of the United States shall apply thereto.

(2) EXPORT VIOLATIONS.—The authorities under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) (as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act), including penalties, shall be used to enforce the provisions of this Act relating to the export of articles in violation of section 3(a).

(c) Forfeiture.—

(1) GENERAL RULE.—Except with respect to exports to which the provisions of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) (as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) apply, and imports to which the customs laws of the United States apply, pursuant to subsection (b), any steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap taken, possessed, sold, purchased, offered for sale or purchase, imported, exported, transported, delivered, received, carried, or shipped in violation of this Act or any rule made under this Act, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States. Those provisions of law relating to—

(A) the seizure, summary and judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of property for violations of the customs laws of the United States;

(B) the disposition of such property or the proceeds from the sale thereof;

(C) the remission or mitigation of such forfeitures; and

(D) the compromise of claims,

shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions of this subsection, insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with this Act.

(2) ENFORCEMENT.—Such duties as are imposed upon the customs officer or any other person with respect to the seizure and forfeiture of property under the customs laws of the United States may be performed with respect to seizures and forfeitures of property under this subsection by the Secretary or such officers and employees as may be authorized or designated for that purpose by the Secretary, or, upon the request of the Secretary, by any other agency that has authority to manage and dispose of seized property.

(d) Injunctions.—The Attorney General of the United States may seek to enjoin any person who is alleged to be in violation of this Act or any rule made under this Act.

(e) Cooperation.—The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any other department or agency with enforcement responsibilities under this Act shall cooperate with the Secretary in ensuring that this Act, and rules made under this Act, are enforced in the most effective and efficient manner.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) STEEL-JAW LEGHOLD TRAP.—The term “steel-jaw leghold trap”—

(A) means any spring-powered pan or sear-activated device with one or two opposing steel jaws, whether the jaws are smooth, toothed, padded, enclosed (dog-proof), or offset, that is designed to capture an animal by snapping closed upon the animal’s limb, foot, or part thereof; and

(B) does not include any cage or box trap; suitcase-type live beaver trap; or mouse or rat snap trap.

(2) CONIBEAR TRAP.—The term “Conibear trap”—

(A) means any trap consisting of two metal frames hinged at the center point and powered by two torsion springs to create a scissor-like action designed to kill an animal by snapping an animal’s spinal column; and

(B) does not include any cage or box trap; suitcase-type live beaver trap; mouse or rat snap trap.

(3) CUSTOMS LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.—The term “customs laws of the United States” means any other law or regulation enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service.

(4) IMPORT.—The term “import” means to land on, bring into, or introduce into, any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, whether or not such landing, bringing, or introduction constitutes an entry into the customs territory of the United States.

(5) INTERSTATE COMMERCE.—The term “interstate commerce” has the meaning given such term in section 10 of title 18, United States Code.

(6) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 7. RULEMAKING.

The Secretary may make rules to carry out this Act.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act."

Keith

Thanks charlie!

Isn't this up to the states.

No problem

Thanks

That bill has been introduced long as i been alive, Al Gore use to toss it out when he was in congress.

Be nice if Victor sued her for the illegal use of their trademarked name Conibear.

Yes it would ADC

Conibear Is the trademark/brand name, so even if passed it is only targeting that particular brand and all leg-holds. Just f'ing idiots in government.

I'd love to see the trap makers get queued up and have aluminum jawed, or titanium-jawed, or any other non steel-jawed leg-hold traps ready to go if this actually passed.

The best thing that could happen for the US would to be a meteor hitting the capital building during a joint session of Congress or a state of the union address.

Great. More maybe soon to be contraband I have to stockpile. This is getting old.

If no one says anything this might grow legs. I’d right a short note to my senators (and I have) voicing my objection. That way it doesn’t get approval to be read in committee and simply dies.

Thanks for bringing this to the front and center. Appreciate.

I offered to come to my congressman office and stick my hand in a foot hold to show him they are neither damaging nor inhumane.

And my congressman (coincidentally a Life Member of AK Trappers Assc) once did that at a Congressional hearing.... in front of God and TV cameras!

I'm so proud. It just brings a tear to my eye to this very day!

Pete

(B) does not include any cage or box trap; suitcase-type live beaver trap; mouse or rat snap trap.

What there arms don't extend to hugging mouse and rats?

Sponsored by a democrat from NC. Imagine that!

Don't know about y'all, however I've never seen a leghold trap, seen many footholds, but nary a leghold ?

Would some one please explain a leghold to me, seems the description it's self allows for the bill to be dismissed for improper writing and declaration on subject ?

Absolutely! A lawyer from Victor called me several years ago when I used “Conibear” in ads for our setter. He said it was their name and I couldn’t use it! Lol I’ve called them body grips ever since.

Ol Don ain't perfect, but he's about as close as politicians get! No way in Hades he'd let this fly anywhere. Proposals are cheap. Legislation is expensive.

Yes

thanks for brining this up. I posted in the wv trappers association page on Facebook so they can email our reps I've done sent my email to them.

I wouldn't fret too much over this one. It will fizzle. The thing to be concerned about is they will keep at it finding new ways.

We need to get all of the sportsmen groups (hunting, fishing, trapping) working proactively to get our positive message of what we do to the general public. If we can work together we will stay ahead of them. Maybe put them on the defensive for once.

2) CONIBEAR TRAP.—The term “Conibear trap”—

(A) means any trap consisting of two metal frames hinged at the center point and powered by two torsion springs to create a scissor-like action designed to kill an animal by snapping an animal’s spinal column; and

make a rat trap with a 12 x 18 inch base and matching jaws and springs

Done

This is only the beginning

I have little doubt this bill will now pass.

Keith

I doubt it will make it out of committee. It is too vague and poorly written to become law as written.

But then again, I thought Georgia would elect two republican senators the other day.

did you look at our last drug law?

Save your effort and ammunition for now. Introduced in the 116th Congress, which ended January 3 when the 117th began. This bill is dead. Expect it again though, and much more in this session. They won't waste any time with having both Congress and POTUS, unlike lame a$$ Republicans who decide to do nothing when the same opportunity exists.