Sacramento – Republican Senators have sent a letter to Senate Leader, Darrell Steinberg, expressing their concern over the unjustified campaign Animal Rights activists have waged against Department of Fish and Game Commission President Dan Richards. Richards was photographed with a mountain lion he legally took in Idaho. That photograph was recently published in a hunting magazine. “Mr. Richards has not broken one law. In the state of Idaho it is perfectly legal to take down a mountain lion. After all, there are lots of states that don’t follow California’s lead on every issue,” said Harman.
Democrat Assembly members amped up the debate late last week by calling for Commissioner Richards’ resignation because hunting mountain lions is illegal in California.
“Demanding his resignation over something the liberal elite see as distasteful is merely pandering. If we applied that logic across the board, Californians caught gambling in Nevada or driving 85mph in Texas should be forced to resign their position too.”
“Hunters and anglers, who actually spend time outdoors, are those most invested in ensuring that California manages wildlife responsibly, and Dan Richards certainly fits that description,” added Senator Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale). “Once again, some Californian legislators are revealing their elitist attitude by trying to impose our laws on other states. Perhaps those calling for his resignation could be more informed about how a federalized system of government works.”
Republicans are not alone in questioning the motivation of legislators calling for Mr. Richard’s resignation. Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walter’s column, California Legislators Show their Hypocrisy over Hunting Issue hits the proverbial nail on the head: Richards appears to be guilty only of offending the sensibilities of the Legislature, whatever they may be.
This is the same Legislature that offends the sensibilities of most Californians, according to a recent Field Poll, because lawmakers habitually ignore important issues, carry bills of self-serving trivia, help special interests, and manipulate their schedules to maximize their incomes.
This is the same Legislature that didn’t react when one of its members was caught by police with a prostitute in his car, parked alongside a busy Los Angeles highway, or when another crashed her state-issued car while driving recklessly, injuring two people.
More recently, this is the same Legislature that didn’t respond when a member was nailed for shoplifting, or when another carried a loaded pistol into an airport security checkpoint.
As for Newsom, a politician who had an affair with his top campaign aide’s wife shouldn’t moralize.
Senator Harman represents the communities of Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Rossmoor, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and portions of Buena Park, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Westminster.
