http://www.ussportsmen.org/Page.aspx?pid=1490&storyid2905=58&ncs2905=3 Bullseye Are Your Legislators “Humane?” Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:52:08 AM By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications We all know that President Obama got a B minus from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) but what about Congress? Sometimes it can seem pretty hard to keep track of all the votes legislators make, much less figuring out which are truly good or bad for sportsmen. Well thanks to HSUS itself, that guessing game has been made a whole lot simpler. The HSUS’ lobbying arm, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, has just released their “2009 Humane Scorecard” which means now you can see how your Congressmen and Senators stack up on the HSUS “Humane” scale. One of the things we at the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance always want to drive home is the importance of grassroots activism and keeping your legislators honest. Nothing helps defeat anti-hunting efforts better than informed sportsmen who willing to keep the heat on their elected officials. By checking out this scorecard, you’ll become informed and be ready to talk to your legislators. If your legislators earn high marks from the HSUS, you should write them a letter and tell them you don’t support their efforts on behalf of a group that stands against America’s outdoor traditions. If your legislators get bad marks from HSUS, you should write a letter and tell them thanks for not buckling under pressure from HSUS . Click here for sample letters for a legislator getting good HSUS marks and for one earning poor marks from HSUS.
Quite interesting. It wasn't until I read it through, that I realized a very low score isnt necessarily a good thing, IMO. I certainly do not want my legislators voting for some of the things, BUT I have absolutely no problem with my legislators voting to phase out chimpanzees in invasive research, funding conservation programs for cranes, prohibit the trade of non-humane primates, fund conservation of jaguars, cheetahs, and leopards, establish a recovery program for a sea otter, and marine turtle conservation. Hunters pride themselves and argue that they are conservationists and contribute greatly to our environment, and unfortunately that means agreeing with SOME thing the HSUS agrees with too.
Most times, I'm all for my legislators voting. Period. But showing up and voting on some of this CRAP only gives it legitimacy. I'm kinda digging the ones who abstain.
