Regarding Initiative 713, the anti-trapping initiative: Currently our vote is being bought by a few very wealthy groups, in order to tie our hands and empty our pockets. They are spending millions nationally to do so. These groups – PAWS, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Humane Society of the United States and Friends for Animals – aim to keep all of us from managing our property and, eventually, our futures and safety. Note the increase in cougar and bear encounters and attacks since the passage of another of their measures four years ago, Initiative 655. Will one of our children need to die before we see what their highly funded agenda really is? It is to take our heritage of trapping, hunting and fishing from us, ending all consumptive use of any animals.
Washington’s present system of government is being abused in order to give these groups a loophole to do their dirty work. This is not what the initiative process was intended to allow. Our qualified agencies can’t do their appointed jobs, which we already pay them for. Also, as a whole, these agencies are against this foolish, expensive tactic of ballot-box abuse. They realize the cost and we should, too.
If this insane measure passes, we will not be able to trap nuisance moles, gophers and mice in our homes. We, along with animal control agents and veterinarians, won’t be able to use neck snares for animal control again. We won’t be able to monitor dangerous diseases like the hanta virus, bubonic plague and lime disease, as we are presently doing through trapping. Is this the kind of craziness that we want?
If this measure becomes law in November, it will cost all of us many millions of sorely needed dollars we desperately need for roads, transit and schools. I urge everyone to consider these thoughts. This is why I’m voting no on I- 713. It’s just too extreme.
Everett
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