Lansing, Mich. — Yesterday, Safari Club International’s (SCI) Michigan Chapters worked in conjunction with the Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management (CPWM) to submit over 350,000 signatures to the Michigan Secretary of State in support of the ballot committee sponsoring a citizen-initiated law called the Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act.
“The voice of Michigan hunters and conservationists cannot be ignored. We are proud of everyone who has worked on the campaign to ensure that fish and wildlife are managed with sound science. Their work will be a lasting legacy to protect hunting and fishing rights from attacks by out-of-state anti-hunting organizations,” said SCI Past President and current CPWM Chairman Merle Shepard. “I want to thank SCI for their leadership in helping to collect signatures, as well as its financial commitment to fighting for our hunting rights.”
The Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act is a citizen-initiated law to:
Ensure that decisions affecting the taking of fish and game are made using principles of sound scientific management
Provide for free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for active members of the military
Provide appropriations for fisheries management activities within Michigan necessary for rapid response, prevention, control and/or elimination of aquatic invasive species, including Asian carp
A citizen-initiated law requires over 258,000 valid signatures to present the law to the Michigan Legislature. If the Legislature passes the law without change within 40 days, then it becomes law. Over 350,000 signatures were collected with over 150,000 of those signatures collected by the volunteer organizations that supported the ballot committee.
“This citizens’ initiative is indicative of our membership speaking out as the voice for hunters and conservationists in both the state of Michigan and around the world,” said SCI President Craig Kauffman. “I am so proud that SCI’s membership in the state played such a vital role in getting this across the finish line and for truly being first for hunters.”
What Michigan hunters need now is the ability to fight dollar for dollar against outside anti-hunting organizations. Please consider making a donation today at http://www.citizenswildlife.com/donate/. 100% of your donation will go to the fight in Michigan. If you wish to send a check, please send it to the following address: Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management P.O. Box 11082 Lansing, MI 48910
Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page http://www.safariclub.orgor call (520) 620-1220 for more information.
Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management is a ballot committee composed of conservation organizations from across Michigan who believe that fish and wildlife decisions should be based on sound science.
