Statement of Endangered Species Coalition Northern Rocky Mountain Representative Derek Goldman on the Crapo, Risch, Labrador Grizzly bear bill introduced today
“The Endangered Species Act is very flexible and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has always given folks the benefit of the doubt on self-defense claims.
The Jeremy Hill case was a single, rare and unfortunate incident that some politicians are apparently using as an excuse to undermine common-sense protections for wildlife and habitat. Every year people kill dozens of grizzly bears in self-defense and virtually none of them are ever prosecuted. Yet, you never hear those politicians talking about how well the Endangered Species Acts works in those cases.
The Endangered Species Act is our nation’s safety net for fish, plants and wildlife on the brink of extinction. It is also a flexible law that has always retained the right of citizens to self-defense.
Federal prosecutors investigated the incident and dropped charges against Mr. Hill a week ago. The Endangered Species Act works.”
Derek Goldman, Field Representative
Endangered Species Coalition
405 S. 1st St. West, Missoula, MT 59801
Office: (406) 721-3218
Fax: (406) 721-8535
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The Endangered Species Coalition is a national, non-partisan network of hundreds of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, humane, business and community groups across the country. Through public education, scientific information and citizen participation, we work to protect our nation's wildlife and wild places. http://www.stopextinction.org
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