| Author | Message | ||
     Louiethelump Message Board Member Username: Louiethelump Post Number: 2958 Registered: 12-2010 |
From Yahoo: The bald eagle that came into wildlife rehabilitator Belinda Burwell's care last month, just as the hunting season was coming to a close in North America, was a shadow of its former self. The stiff and wobbly bird clung to life but showed distinct signs of lead poisoning, likely from scavenging the remains of big game left by hunters who killed their prey with lead bullets. "She couldn't walk, couldn't fly," said Burwell. "If she tried to move, she would fall over, she would stumble." Environmental groups say 20 million birds die worldwide each year from eating bits of lead in animal carcasses, because many US hunters use lead ammunition which leaves 3,000 tons of toxic fragments in gut piles and unclaimed kills. The dangers of lead have been well known for decades, and steps have been taken to prevent human consumption by removing it from paint, gasoline, pipes, children's jewelry and more. A ban on hunters' use of lead shot for killing waterfowl was passed in the United States in the early 1990s because birds were being poisoned by ingesting the pieces that fell into waterways and ponds. But the question of whether to do the same for hunters on land has thrust the eagle, the national symbol of America, into a fresh political battle over gun rights and environmental protection. On one side is the powerful US gun lobby, which disputes science on lead poisoning and insists that any measures to regulate lead ammunition would spell a ban on hunting in all its forms, infringe on gun rights and raise costs. On the other is a dogged but weary wildlife protection movement that is pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to take steps to regulate the use of lead ammunition in order to protect birds and humans against lead poisoning. Both have adopted the bald eagle as a symbol of their efforts, with the bird featuring on the cover of the Center for Biological Diversity's petition to the EPA as well as on the web page of the National Rifle Association. "This is the last unregulated, widespread distribution of toxic lead into the environment," said Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity, which is seeking US federal rules to require non-toxic bullets in hunting and shooting sports. "We know it is getting into the food chain. We also know that humans are eating it and there is no safe level of lead in the human body so it is most certainly a human health issue too." Miller said 150 groups in 40 states now support the petition, including hunters, scientists, American Indians, conservationists and veterinarians. The EPA turned down a similar request for a ban on lead bullets in 2010, saying it did not have the authority to regulate ammunition. However, environmental advocates say the EPA does have the right to regulate components of ammunition. END PG 1 | ||
| Louiethelump Message Board Member Username: Louiethelump Post Number: 2959 Registered: 12-2010 |
PAGE 2; More than a dozen countries in Europe have banned lead ammunition for hunting waterfowl and Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden are among a handful of countries that have totally banned lead bullets. Germany, Japan and Belgium have passed limited restrictions on their use. The Peregrine Fund, a nonprofit group in Idaho, has posted online a host of peer-reviewed studies on the effects of lead on wildlife, with some figures showing as many as 10-15 percent of young eagles die each year from lead poisoning. While the bald eagle is no longer a threatened population in the United States, it and other birds that scavenge like the endangered California Condors, vultures, herons and golden eagles, are among the species most at risk. One study by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources showed how a lead ballistic tip bullet could fragment into an average of 141 pieces per carcass, reaching as far as 14 inches from the wound (35 cm), indicating a danger for humans who eat meat killed with lead bullets, too. Pro-gun groups like the National Shooting and Sports Foundation say there is no "sound science" to support a ban. "If wildlife management decisions become about preventing harm to individuals within a species and not about managing a species itself, then you have essentially made the argument to ban hunting," said Lawrence Keane, senior vice president of the NSSF. The NRA has urged Congress to "step in and ensure this restriction never happens," asserting that the effort is being headed by "gun-grabbers... disguised as nature lovers." A House subcommittee in late February approved a bill that would prevent the EPA from taking action on the CBD's petition, and some senators with ties to sportsmen's groups are considering the same. Rick Watson of the Peregrine Fund said switching to copper bullets costs the same as buying a box of premium lead ammunition, about $45 a box, while the cheapest lead ammo can be had for $15. "Hunters historically and traditionally have been some of the best conservationists this country has had. And given accurate facts we believe the vast majority will choose to use lead-free ammunition because it protects the wildlife they so enjoy," he said. Matt Miller, an outdoor writer and hunter, said he switched to copper bullets years ago after learning of the dangers of lead, and is pleased with the results. "It has not increased the cost of my hunting. The bottom line is if you know your rifle and you shoot it well, a big game hunting trip costs you one bullet." Burwell, who has been treating her eagle for three weeks and is ready to release her into the wild on Saturday, said she is not optimistic that the EPA will act. "With the NRA pushing to prevent any type of regulation, the word on the wildlife side is it will never happen," she said. "It depends on who has the most money. Doesn't it seem sometimes that that is who wins these things?" | ||
| Westerly1965 Message Board Member Username: Westerly1965 Post Number: 2494 Registered: 09-2010  |
I am not really sure how an article regarding whether or not lead ammo should be banned has anything to do with anybody coming for our guns. Especially when it is stated in the article that the people on the wildlife side pretty much say it isn't going to happen.....perhaps you would care to elaborate on this? | ||
| Louiethelump Message Board Member Username: Louiethelump Post Number: 2966 Registered: 12-2010 |
I should not need to. The point of the article is the harm being done to Eagles specifically and the environment in general by the lead in bullets. If I have to explain that trail of environmentalism to a CA resident, and where that is intended to lead, you have truly not been paying attention, and you get a D- for "paying attention in class" I did not say it was being outlawed tomorrow. The BHO regime has made comments about intent to control guns through the ammunition and the EPA without having to use the Congress. DO I REALLY HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS ON A GUN FORUM???? Are there ANY gun people here? HINT: The projectiles used in NAA guns are generally lead, and the primer contained in them contains lead. | ||
| Westerly1965 Message Board Member Username: Westerly1965 Post Number: 2498 Registered: 09-2010 |
Fair Enough if that is your point but it is a pretty long stretch to extrapolate to that when the article specifically says. ""With the NRA pushing to prevent any type of regulation, the word on the wildlife side is it will never happen," she said." I'm really not trying to argue I'm just saying. I am fairly confident that BHO will be voted out in November so I Highly doubt it will be his "regime" that does this. Funny that when their is a Conservative in the WH all the liberals call it a "regime" and when there is a liberal in the WH all the Conservatives call it a"regime" see a pattern developing there? | ||
| Louiethelump Message Board Member Username: Louiethelump Post Number: 2969 Registered: 12-2010 |
It is a regime in both cases, it gets called one when you have constant power grabs going on, an executive order to allow martial law when there MIGHT be a problem, a private police force being recruited and trained (I know you don't believe it even though BHO SAID he was doing it), is attempting to intimidate the Supreme Court, and is a fan of Marxists who have written instruction books on how to bring down the USA and he is going step by step by the book as well as saying he was going to go around Congress to get the things done he wants done. No reason for alarm there................ And YES, I DO see the pattern. You seem to NOT be able to see it however. Or, you just don't want to. | ||
| Naa_collector Message Board Member Username: Naa_collector Post Number: 6340 Registered: 06-2009  |
For ammo that is used to hunt wildlife, I could see this going thru. But for pistol ammo, there's no reason anybody is going to hunt game with that, so there's no justification for that. I thought it was already illegal to hunt with lead in water areas, like duck hunting. For that you use steel shot, right? (I'm not a hunter, so I'm not sure.) | ||
| Westerly1965 Message Board Member Username: Westerly1965 Post Number: 2500 Registered: 09-2010 |
Yes lead shot was outlawed many years ago for use on waterfowl. Ironically I believe it was under Bush 1 but can't remember for sure. Louie ~ I think you missed my point but your counter point actually agreed with my point and I just can't really believe that happened.... | ||
| Chopprs Message Board Member Username: Chopprs Post Number: 6802 Registered: 09-2009  |
.......good Lord, same discussion, different day.....over and over and over!  | ||
| Louiethelump Message Board Member Username: Louiethelump Post Number: 2971 Registered: 12-2010 |
Dar: LOTS AND LOTS of people hunt with handguns. 22lr ammo is all lead bullets. It is used for hunting in handguns and rifles. If lead is banned for ammunition it will be ALL ammunition and ALL primers and that will be the end of ammunition. Your bullet launcher just became a paper weight. They are NOT talking about waterfowl. The article claims 3,000 TONS of lead is left in the bodies of hunteD animals' innards in the woods. (I am sure they are counting all sold ammo to get those tons and tons of lead) THAT IS SIX MILLION POUNDS OF BULLETS THEY ARE CLAIMING ARE BEING LEFT IN THE WOODS!!!! Do the math! Average rifle bullet is 150 grains. 7000 grains to the pound. That is 46 bullets to the pound. THEY ARE CLAIMING 276 MILLION BULLETS ARE BEING LEFT IN GUT PILES!!! That ridiculous figure does not disturb you??? The fact that they have to lie about it should make you suspicious. In addition, if you will check, the Bald Eagle and other predator birds are coming back and are plentiful. | ||
| Chopprs Message Board Member Username: Chopprs Post Number: 6812 Registered: 09-2009 |
Correct. When I went to Alaska a couple years ago the Bald Eagles are literally EVERYWHERE!!! Even here in New York they have become commonlace.....that article is a bunch of crap! | ||
| Uncle_lee Message Board Member Username: Uncle_lee Post Number: 2296 Registered: 09-2009  |
Lead for ducks was outlawed in 1991. Don't serve ducks lead. They have been planning to build a multi-million dollar bridge across the Ohio River at Louisville, KY. On the news last night I saw where it is delayed again because there are bald eagles, as many as 4 pairs, nesting near where they are looking at putting the bridge. If someone was to kill all the birds that the green people worry about, then we wouldn't have to worry about them........ Oh, and don't forget the "special" little fish and worms and this little flower and that little weed. Can't put a big hydroelectric dam there because we just found four little salamanders there and they may be the last ones on Earth. •••• | ||
| Bud Message Board Member Username: Bud Post Number: 2155 Registered: 10-2009 |
I'm surprised any birds or animals lived after the civil war!  | ||
| Westerly1965 Message Board Member Username: Westerly1965 Post Number: 2518 Registered: 09-2010 |
Still not working out for them. The EPA repeatedly says they WILL NOT regulate lead in AMMO. In fact the EPA has repeatedly said the CAN NOT regulate AMMO it is exempted from the law these nuts are trying to use to get it outlawed... http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120410/NEWS03/704109765 | ||
| Louiethelump Message Board Member Username: Louiethelump Post Number: 2996 Registered: 12-2010 |
Laws are NOTHING compared to Executive Orders. He has said he plans to do things that he cannot get the Congress to act on by Executive order and by adminisrative ruling. You will see it balloon after November when he does not have to worry about gettting elected again. You better have the ammo you are going to want and need in inventory before Next year. Louie the fish | ||
| Bud Message Board Member Username: Bud Post Number: 2194 Registered: 10-2009 |
When the cops are just minutes away... ><<> http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=34a_1317870586 -- "The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government." Patrick Henry | ||
| Westerly1965 Message Board Member Username: Westerly1965 Post Number: 2550 Registered: 09-2010 |
Bud ~ LOL that's about it to! |
