PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Stop the Trade in Bear Parts
  1. Signatures
    429 out of 500
  2. Created By
    Manuela .
    Atlanta, GA
About this Petition Pledge

Across North America, black bears have been found with gallbladders removed, paws chopped off, and bodies left to rot, all to satisfy a demand in Asian communities both here and abroad. A gallbladder might fetch thousands of dollars on the black market, making it as valuable by weight as gold or illicit drugs.

In the U.S., the current patchwork of state laws that addresses the bear parts trade creates a wildlife law-enforcement nightmare. Thirty-four states prohibit trade in bear gallbladders and bile; five states allow it freely; and the others either have no regulations or restrictions that prohibit trade in bear parts from bears taken within the state but allow commercialization of bear parts if the bear is killed elsewhere.


Since it is fundamentally impossible to tell a California bear gallbladder from a Pennsylvania bear gallbladder, this regulatory inconsistency makes national bear protection extremely difficult.

The Bear Protection Act, H.R. 3480, would prohibit the import, export, and interstate commerce in bear viscera and products that contain or claim to contain bear viscera.

If passed, this bill would assist wildlife law-enforcement efforts while creating a sound national policy against the trade in bear gallbladders and bile. Although twice passed by the Senate in recent years, the bill has been stymied time and again by the National Rifle Association and its associates who defiantly resist any positive movement to protect American wildlife from poachers’ bullets — yet this is an issue not about sport hunting but about poaching and commercializing wildlife. H.R. 3480 has again been introduced into the House.

To voice your support of this very important piece of legislation, please write your Representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor this bill.


Thanks for taking action!


Source: Born Free USA

Why People Are Signing
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Stop the Trade in Bear Parts

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<b>Across North America, black bears have been found with gallbladders removed, paws chopped off, and bodies left to rot, all to satisfy a demand in Asian communities both here and abroad.</b> A gallbladder might fetch thousands of dollars on the black market, making it as valuable by weight as gold or illicit drugs.</p>
<p>In the U.S., the current patchwork of state laws that addresses the bear parts trade creates a wildlife law-enforcement nightmare. <b>Thirty-four states prohibit trade in bear gallbladders and bile; five states allow it freely; and the others either have no regulations or restrictions that prohibit trade in bear parts from bears taken within the state but allow commercialization of bear parts if the bear is killed elsewhere. <br /><br /><br /></b>Since it is fundamentally impossible to tell a California bear gallbladder from a Pennsylvania bear gallbladder, this regulatory inconsistency makes national bear protection extremely difficult.</p>
<p><a href="https://secure3.convio.net/bfusa/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=450"><b>The Bear Protection Act, H.R. 3480, would prohibit the import, export, and interstate commerce in bear viscera and products that contain or claim to contain bear viscera.<br /><br /></b></a></p>
<p><b>If passed, this bill would assist wildlife law-enforcement efforts while creating a sound national policy against the trade in bear gallbladders and bile. </b>Although twice passed by the Senate in recent years, the bill has been stymied time and again by the National Rifle Association and its associates who defiantly resist any positive movement to protect American wildlife from poachers&rsquo; bullets &mdash; <b>yet this is an issue not about sport hunting but about poaching and commercializing wildlife. H.R. 3480 has again been introduced into the House.<br /><br /></b></p>
<p>To voice your support of this very important piece of legislation, <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/bfusa/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&amp;page=UserAction&amp;id=450"><b>please write your Representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor this bill.</b></a></p>
<p><br />Thanks for taking action!</p>
<p><b><br />Source: </b>Born Free USA<b><br /></b>

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