UPDATE JUNE 6, 2019
Connecticut Senate Bill 20, which would ban the import of certain African Taxidermy, has died in the Connecticut House of Representatives. Luke Houghton, associate director of state services for the Sportsmen’s Alliance said, “It’s terribly arrogant for anti-hunting legislators and the animal-rights lobby to believe they know what’s better for wildlife than the experts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and biologists in the countries where these animals live. While we’re pleased the bill was defeated, it’s a real warning that it passed the senate. Sportsmen have their work cut out for them in the future in Connecticut and elsewhere.”
The Connecticut Senate has passed Senate Bill 20, which prohibits the import of big six African taxidermy.
SB20 says, “No person shall import, possess, sell, offer for sale or transport in this state any big six African species…including any part, product or offspring thereof, or the dead body or parts thereof“. They define the big six as the African elephant, African lion, African leopard, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, and Africa giraffe.
It goes on to say, “Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony and fined not more than ten thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than two years, or both.” The penalty is the same for someone who commits manslaughter or arson.
The bill can be read in its entirety here.
The Senate passed the bill with the amendment that the penalty would be a Class A Misdemeanor. This means importing taxidermy from your legal hunt, could land you a year in prison and a $2000 fine. The penalty is the same as assault, domestic violence, and burglary.
“Senate Bill 20 treats law-abiding hunters like killers of people, and actually endangers the health of iconic animals its authors claim to protect,” said Bruce Tague, vice president of government affairs for the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “This bill is absolute lunacy!”
Connecticut sportsmen are encouraged to contact their representatives and tell them to vote No on SB20.
Our original story can be read here.
Would a law prohibiting you from bringing your taxidermy home prevent you from hunting one of the big six?
