Md. Alert: Ban on leg-hold traps and all snares !

Maryland Senate Bill 822
Prohibits use and maintence of steel jaw leg-hold traps as well as use and even possession of any form of neck snares.
Folks if this goes thru the only devices legal will be plastic-coated foot snares with some sort of a stop on them to ensure that circulation is maintained in the trapped animals limb. The way this is written you will not even be allowed to ride thru Md. with snares in your vehicle. This bill will take effect before the start of next season so if you do not fight this one our trapping is gone.
Link to the Bill : http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/billfile/sb0822.htm

Everyone in Maryland please call your State Senator and Delegate to check his or her stance on this Bill, and to register your opposition. Please take the time to contact your local politicians, landowners and other trappers to get this bill defeated.
The Maryland Fur Trappers are leading the fight on this one and we need all the help we can get.

Please, can one of the moderators pin this to the top ?
Thanks, Morgan Bennett

Heres the link to the the maryland fur trappers assocation... http://www.marylandtrappers.com/ I just put my application in the mail yesterday after I saw this.

Thanks Matt.

bad karma ,I got my farmers to contact their reps . I expect a few ears were burning .

From The U.S. Sportsmen Alliance and http://www.ussportsmen.org :

Anti's Propose Statewide Trapping Ban in Maryland After Local Bans Approved- (02/25)
Maryland
Join our e-mail alert list


The animal rights movement has been making strides in Maryland, recently establishing several countywide trapping bans. The effort to slowly erode sportsmen's rights has kicked into the next gear with the introduction of a bill to ban trapping statewide.

Senate Bill 822, sponsored by Sen. Gwendolyn Britt, D-Mt. Rainier, would ban foot hold traps and snares. The bill, which mimics proposals from past legislative sessions, awaits action in the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.

"The anti's are banking on momentum generated after passing bills last year that allow local governments to ban trapping to help them pass the statewide ban," said Tony Celebrezze, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance director of state services. "Maryland sportsmen cannot take the issue lightly. They must contact their state senators to demonstrate solid opposition."

Take Action! Resist the anti-trapping attack and stop the anti's impetus. Maryland sportsmen should contact their state senators today and ask them to oppose SB 822. Explain to lawmakers that SB 822 will eliminate a valuable wildlife management tool, and allow nuisance wildlife to become a threat to public health and safety. To find your state senator, call (410) 841-3000 or use the Legislative Action Center at http://www.ussportsmen.org.

Senate Bill 822 has a hearing date: 3/20/07 at 1:00 pm in Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Com.

I will do my best to attend the hearing. I have a petition to mail to Ron also.

'bout time you showed up JoMiBru. Glad you are on board. Past veteran of several anti-bills.

Contact info. for the 2 pending anti-trap bills:
---------------------------------------
For HB 1369:
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS COMMITTEE
on the House side


Maggie McIntosh, Chair 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3990

James E. Malone, Jr., Vice-Chair 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3378
Saqib Ali - Montgomery 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3021
Pamela G. Beidle - Anne Arundel 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3370
Elizabeth Bobo 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3205
Joseph C. Boteler III 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3365
Rudolph C. Cane 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3427
Virginia P. Clagett 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3211
Barbara A. Frush 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3114
Barry Glassman 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3289
Cheryl D. Glenn - Baltimore 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3257
Anne Healey - Prince George 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3961
Marvin E. Holmes, Jr. 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3310
Thomas Hucker - Montgomery 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3474
Stephen W. Lafferty - Baltimore 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3487
Jane E. Lawton - Montgomery 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3638
Doyle L. Niemann - Prince George 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3326
Anthony J. O'Donnell - Calvert 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3314
Tanya Thorton Shewell - Baltimore 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3371
Richard A. Sossi 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3543
Dana M. Stein - Baltimore 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3527
Paul S. Stull 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3107
Michael H. Weir, Jr. 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3328
-----------------------------------------------------------
For SB 822
EDUCATION, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
On the Senate side;
Joan Carter Conway, Chair (410) 841-3145,

Roy P. Dyson, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3673,
Gwendolyn T. Britt 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3745
Richard F. Colburn 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3590
Janet Greenip 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3568
Andrew P. Harris 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3706
J. Robert Hooper 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3603 Harford Co.
Michael G. Lenett 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3151 Montgomery Co.
Paul G. Pinsky 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3155
James C. Rosapepe 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3141- Anne Arundel
Robert A. Zirkin 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3131 - Baltimore

Hearing Scheduled for Maryland Anti-Trapping Bill
Maryland
Join our e-mail alert list- http://www.ussportsmen.org/wlfatemplates/register.cfm

Maryland sportsmen should attend a senate hearing next week to block anti-hunters’ efforts to erode sportsmen’s rights.

Senate Bill 822, which will ban leg hold traps and snares, will be heard in the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:00 pm. Sportsmen should attend the hearing and let lawmakers know that eradication of trapping will damage Maryland wildlife and place the publics health in jeopardy.

A statewide trapping ban would be a step towards the antis goal of wiping out hunting and trapping, said U.S. Sportsmens Alliance Vice President for Government Affairs Rob Sexton. A ban would toss out the window the most effective control method for species that carry rabies and other diseases.

The state Department of Health has reported that counties including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery, and Price Georges that have banned leg hold traps have a disproportionately high number of rabies cases.

Senate Bill 822, sponsored by Gwendolyn Britt, D-Baltimore, mimics proposals from past legislative sessions that have allowed local governments to ban trapping. The antis are banking on momentum from those bills to help them pass the statewide ban.

Take Action! Maryland sportsmen should attend the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee hearing on March 20 at 1:00 p.m. SB 822 will be heard on the second floor of the Miller Building in the Education, Health, and Environment Committee hearing room, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis.

Those who cannot attend should contact committee members today and ask them to oppose SB 822. Explain that SB 822 will eliminate a valuable wildlife management tool, and allow nuisance wildlife to become a threat to public health and safety. Sportsmen can find a sample issue letter on the Legislative Action Center at http://www.ussportsmen.org.

Legislator
Party-Hometown
Phone

Joan Carter Conway, Chair
D-Baltimore
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3145

Roy Dyson, Vice Chair
D-Great Mills
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3673

Paul Pinsky
D-Hyattsville
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3155

Gwendolyn Britt
D-Baltimore
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3745

Richard Colburn
R-Cambridge
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3590

Janet Greenip
R-Crowfton
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3568

Andrew Harris
R-Cockeysville
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3706

J. Robert Hooper
R-Bel Air
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3603

Michael Lenett
D-Silver Spring
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3151

James Rosapepe
D-College Park
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3141

Robert Zirkin
D-Pikesville
(800) 492-7122 ext. 3131

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Here's a list of email links, phone numbers & a few faxes to each person for SB 822-

Joan Carter Conway, Chair 800 492 7122, ext. 3145 joan.carter.conway@senate.state.md.us
Roy P. Dyson, Vice Chair 800 492 7122, ext. 3673 roy.dyson@senate.state.md.us
Paul G. Pinsky 800 492 7122 ext. 3155 paul.pinsky@senate.state.md.us
Gwendolyn T. Britt 800 492 7122 ext. 3745 gwendolyn.britt@senate.state.md.us
Richard F. Colburn 800 492 7122 ext. 3590 richard.colburn@senate.state.md.us 410 841 3087 fax
Janet Greenip 800 492 7122 ext. 3568 janet.greenip@senate.state.md.us
Andrew P. Harris 800 492 7122 ext.3706 andrew.harris@senate.state.md.us 410 841 3750 fax
J. Robert Hooper 800 492 7122 ext. 3603 robert.hooper@senate.state.md.us
Michael G. Lenett 800 492 7122 ext. 3151 mike.lenett@senate.state.md.us
James C. Rosapepe 800 492 7122 ext. 3141 jim.rosapepe@senate.state.md.us
Robert A. Zirkin 800 492 7122 ext. 3131 bobby.zirkin@senate.state.md.us

Thanks Roy.

any word on the status of both bills? I've checked the House & Senate websites and nothing yet. I guess maybe I should call one of the committee members I know.

Has it passed

Neither bill got out of committee