A good example of a lot of “little” taxes that, when combined with all the other taxes we outdoorsmen face, can be overwhelming, is the proposed SB 460 that supposedly has to do with the “puppy mills” in our state. The bill goes far beyond dealing with puppy mills and, if ever passed, could place even further taxes and restrictions on the outdoor community. The “puppy-mill-bills” (SB460, HB460, HB733) are a very real threat to our southern tradition of hunting with dogs.
Thanks to a lot of work by dog owners across the state and the coordinating efforts of Henri and Joe McClees of the North Carolina Sporting Dog Association, HB460 has stalled in the Legislature but it is not over yet. The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) has their lobbyists hard at work to insure that HB460 stays alive and will come up before the Legislature again in 2010.
In a 1990 statement in Full Cry magazine HSUS President Wayne Pacelle states that, “we are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States..We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state.”
Henri McClees classifies HB460 (and its companion bills) right in there with other government taxation projects that are bleeding many people dry these days. McClees states “Senate Bill #460 is a multi-pronged attack against dog breeders. We have opposed the concept of this bill from the day it was filed by freshman Senator Don Davis. He has amended it repeatedly, but the latest version is as intrusive as the original bill. The annual $50.00 Registration Fee is a tax on dog breeders, the revenues from which will be used to pay people to harass us. We must recognize the danger of increased revenues to the State. More money equals more power. Think I exaggerate?
“The bill would establish standards for the care of animals...including "provisions for adequate daily exercise, adequate veterinary care, appropriate housing for intact females of breeding age, females with litters and weaned puppies, and record keeping." Further, "The failure of a commercial breeder to adequately house, exercise, feed, water, provide adequate veterinary care, or otherwise meet the standards of care for the animals in the commercial breeder's custody or possession shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor, and the commercial breeder shall be subject to a fine or not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) per day per animal." The monies raised from the $50.00 Registration Fee/Tax will be used to pay animal control workers or designated third parties to do this work.
“In a separate Senate Bill #467, the legislature changed the definition of Animal Control Officer to include "agents of a private organization that is operating an animal shelter under contract with a city or county whenever those agents are performing animal control functions at the shelter." Who do you think would seek the job of contracting to run an animal shelter? Think PETA volunteers. It is clear our enemies will be regulating our kennels if Senate Bill #460 becomes law.”
Another restriction that our government is about to place on the outdoor community is scheduled to come into effect next year and will require that many motorboat operators be licensed by the NCWRC.
A recent press release from the Wildlife Commission states that “A new boating safety education law was passed by the General Assembly, will be implemented by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
“Beginning May 1, 2010, vessel operators will be asked by law enforcement officers to present a certification card or proof of compliance with General Statute 75A-16.2.
“The law, with certain exemptions, applies to anyone younger than 26 years old who is operating a vessel powered by a 10 horsepower or greater motor on public waterways,” said Capt. Chris Huebner, the state boating safety coordinator. “Violation is an infraction, subject to a citation and court appearance.”
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission administers FREE boating safety education courses that, upon successful completion, satisfy the requirements of the new law. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron and other organizations, including Internet providers, offer National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved boating safety education courses that CAN include a fee.
Note that while the start-up classes and licensing will be at no charge from the Wildlife Commission, there is a portion of the press release that tells people who miss-out on the for-free NCWRC course where to go to take a similar course for a fee.
Many sportsmen will recall that when we bought our North Carolina Lifetime Hunting and Fishing license (tax) that we were promised by representatives of the N.C. Wildlife Commission “This is the last fishing license you’ll ever have to buy in North Carolina.”
That promise went out the window when the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Coastal Conservation Association pushed for the new saltwater fishing license. Most of us agreed with the basic principal of the proposed saltwater fishing license and knew that as long as the new tax monies that could be raised from the license were properly used for marine conservation programs, it was a good deal for us. We just didn’t like the idea of having been lied to about having bought our “last fishing license in North Carolina.”
If it had not been for the very vocal complaints from the thousands of long-time lifetime sportsman’s license holders, the concerted efforts of the Wildlife Resources Commission to back-up their promise and one good Senator from eastern North Carolina to stand behind their promise of the “last fishing license we’d ever need in North Carolina” a lot of us would have been hoodwinked into paying yet another tax on one of our outdoor sports.
Hunting and fishing have a major, positive, economic impact on our nation and we sportsmen are proud of the fact that we, for the most part, pay our own way for these programs. We just don’t like to see parts of the moneys (taxes) we pay for the privilege of enjoying these sports wasted on ill-planned and conducted government projects that sometime benefit private groups or businesses instead of going for fish and wildlife projects that benefit all of us.
This week our nation observes the 38th annual National hunting and Fishing Day and recent figures n the impacts of these two sports on the nation’s economy are eye opening. National Hunting and Fishing Day is set for Saturday, September. 26, 2009.
"Recent-year surveys show nearly 8 in 10 Americans approve of hunting and more than 9 in 10 approve of fishing. That's strong support. But, when viewed in the context of a recession and other modern headlines, our sporting traditions look even better today," said Denise Wagner of Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield, Mo., the official home of NHF Day.
She added, "On NHF Day, I hope people will pause to reflect on hunter and angler contributions to society. And for those of us who've long understood and enjoyed these passions, share the pride by introducing someone new to hunting, fishing or shooting."
Here are three reasons for the American public to value hunting and fishing today:
Economic Impact : No bailouts needed here. Hunting and angling together are an economic force worth $76 billion a year. In 2010, America's economic stimulus package will generate its highest level of federal spending at $236 billion—but hunters and anglers will spend almost a third of that amount all by themselves.
About 1.6 million jobs depend on hunters and anglers. Gas stations, stores, restaurants, hotels and other businesses benefit, especially in rural America. And these recreations are comparatively recession proof. In the first half of 2009, hunting and fishing license sales actually gained 7.6 and 5.4 percent, respectively, over 2008, say the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.
Wildlife Management: Rabies, crop damages, nuisances. Hunting helps control these wildlife issues and many others—none more dramatic than highway accidents involving deer.
White-tailed deer once were on the verge of extinction but rebounded behind historic conservation efforts. Today, deer numbers are skyrocketing. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates 1.5 million deer collisions occur each year. Over 200 people are killed annually. According to a Western Transportation Institute calculation that includes costs of emergency response, injuries to driver and passengers, damages to vehicle and more, the 2009 average cost of hitting a deer is $6,600. Total public cost: $9.9 billion a year. Now consider that, nationwide, for every deer hit by a motorist, hunters take six. Imagine the human casualties and costs if hunting ended.
Conservation Funding : What if Congress announced a tax increase to cover $2 billion in annual expenses for conservation programs? Don't worry. Hunters and anglers are already paying that tab. For the privilege of consuming surplus, renewable game and fish resources, hunters and anglers purchase licenses. They also pay special excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, bows, arrows, rods and reels. Combined, these fees generate $100,000 every 30 minutes, more than $1.75 billion per year, for wildlife, fisheries and habitat programs.
Hunters and anglers also contribute another $300 million a year to nonprofit organizations that extend conservation benefits even further. Results have brought many species—turkey, elk pronghorn, Canada goose, wood duck and others—and their habitats from vanishing to flourishing.
For more information on the NHFD, visit www.nhfday.org.
For more Information on NC Sporting Dog Assoc. visit www.ncsportingdog.org
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