(Hat-tip Kos)

This is a perfect example of why - even though I'm a gun owner (and occasional hunter) - I will never be an NRA member:

At the moment, it's illegal to hunt Polar bears in the United States. However, in some parts of Canada, wealthy US hunters pay $30,000 or more for a guided hunt to get their chance at killing this endangered animal.

During the 1970s, these bears were hunted down to a few thousand. Their numbers made a comeback during the 80s and early 90s, but in 1994, the U.S. passed legislation to allow American hunters to import Polar bears killed in Canada for the first time since 1972. Since the change took effect, at least 838 polar bear permits have been issued, with sixty-three additional applications pending this year.

Fortunately, the bears have found a friend in Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). A measure by Reed to prevent trophy hunters from killing polar bears abroad and bringing their heads and hides back to the United States was recently approved by a key Senate panel. Reed agrees that the bears are rapidly becoming an endangered species, and that global warming has made the bears - marine mammals who depend on sea ice for survival - even more vulnerable.

"We cannot regulate hunting in other nations, but we can help stop the slaughter of these animals by not allowing polar bear imports into the United States," Reed said in a statement. "With the increased threat of global warming, it is essential that we take action to protect these animals."

So, a senator introduces a bill to block import of trophies taken from an endangered species fighting loss of habit and changing climate - an animal that is already protected in the United States. Seems fairly reasonable, yes?

Now, let's go to the NRA for their traditional, "slippery slope" response:

"Legislation in Congress, backed by extreme animal rights groups, would end the process that allows U.S. hunters to import polar bears they sport-hunted in Canada back to the U.S. While few hunters ever have the opportunity to pursue polar bears, all sportsmen must have their voices heard in this critical matter because this is simply one more step in the anti-hunting lobby's effort to incrementally ban all hunting. If they are allowed to prevail regarding the emotional ban on polar bear imports, they will move on to more commonly-hunted game."

And here you thought those poor drowning bear cubs were sad. Mean old Senator Reed is denying folks the pleasure of killing these bears before they're gone. Polar bears today. Quail tomorrow. Pretty soon, it'll be illegal to shoot old lawyers in the face.

Too bad the NRA doesn't have the same sensible attitude as some of the polar bear hunters:

"Fulcher, who just received his permit to import the 29-year-old male polar bear he killed last year, agreed: "Stopping hunting is not going to bring their habitat back. It's gone anyway. Global warming is happening, but it's from urbanization - not hunting."

See? They're going do die anyway, so why not shoot them and get some fun out of it?

Tags: extinction, global warming, greed, hunting, nra, polar bears
From: Chicago
Mood: Assholes