On Wednesday the house voted on bill LD1635. This bill as written would ban the recreational trapping of bear here in Maine.
A couple weeks ago the Joint Standing Committee voted 11 to 1 Ought Not To Pass. After a few minutes of discussing this issue the house voted not in favor of bill LD1635 by a vote of 82 to 60.
A few posts ago I talked about two house representatives that would be voting on this issue. Robert Eaton who represents the town I live in as well as surrounding area was there and this is what he had to say:
“It is just wrong — we don’t need to do this,” said Rep. Robert Eaton, D-Sullivan. “It is barbaric, it’s archaic, and it needs to go.”
This bill has no been sent on to the senate. The bill should be defeated in the senate as well. This is where we as outdoorsmen contact our senate to let them know of our take on this issue. After all, they are our voice. Once this is defeated in the senate you will see those who oppose trapping initiate a referendum that the voters of Maine will see real soon.
Remember this is a step in the door for this group. They want you to think that it is only bear trapping that they are after. It is not, Rep. Jackson points this out in the meeting on Wednesday:
“Personally, I feel it is an attack on hunting and trapping overall,” said Jackson. “If you are so against trapping, why aren’t you against trapping foxes, why aren’t you against trapping raccoons, why aren’t you against trapping lobsters?”
I have said it a hundred times, it is now a time we need to unite together and stand up against those who want to take away our heritage and long standing traditions. One of the biggest arguments I hear that support the ban is, “Maine is the only state that allows trapping. Maine should go along with the other states.” I personally live and love Maine because we have a variety of areas where we are “different” then other states. If you are “embarrassed” that you live in a state that allows trapping of bears, I hear there are many other liberal states that would be willing to accept you.
