Today, the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government passed SB 632 - "Taking of Bears" approved an amendment to SB 632 that made the bill even more egregious and cruel.
They removed the language that states if one "feels threatened" and replaced it with "reasonably believes there is a threat." This is still a broad statement and can be interpreted differently by each individual.
The amendment now includes PROPERTY. This means a person can claim it was reasonably necessary to use lethal force because a bear got into a person's trash, bird feeders, deer feeders, and the list goes on.
The sponsors of this bill went further to remove the following provisions;
21 (1)(a) The use of lethal force to take a bear without a
22 permit or authorization required under this chapter is justified
23 if a person feels threatened and believes that using such force
24 is necessary to protect himself or herself on his or her private
25 property.
26 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if a person intentionally:
27 1. Lures a bear with food or attractants for an illegal
28 purpose, including, but not limited to, training dogs to hunt
29 bears; or 30 2. Provokes a bear to incite an attack.
The fact that the bill's sponsors removed the above provisions raises questions about the true intent of this bill.
FOUR Senators VOTED NO and SIX VOTED YES.
*** CALLS TO ACTION ***
Contact the 4 Senators below who VOTED NO to SB 632 - "Taking of Bears" and THANK them for listening to their constituents and taking a stand against this absurd bill.
Senator Tina Scott Polsky
Phone: (850) 487-5030
Email: polsky.tina.web@flsenate.gov
Vice Chair: Senator Lori Berman
Phone: (850) 487-5026
Email: berman.lori.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Rosalind Osgood
Phone: (850) 487-5032
Email: osgood.rosalind.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Ileana Garcia
Phone: (850) 487-5036
Email: Garcia.Ileana.web@flsenate.gov
Contact the 6 Senators who VOTED YES to SB 632 - "Taking of Bears" and constructively express your disbelief and disappointment in their decision.
Chair: Senator Jason Brodeur
Phone: (850) 487-5010
Email: brodeur.jason.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Jim Boyd
Phone: (850) 487-5020
Email: boyd.jim.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Erin Grall
Phone: (850) 487-5029
Email: Grall.Erin.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Debbie Mayfield
Phone: (850) 487-5019
Email: mayfield.debbie.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez
Phone: (850) 487-5040
Email: rodriguez.anamaria.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Jay Trumbull
Phone: (850) 487-5002
Email: trumbull.jay.web@flsenate.gov
We thank every one of you for taking action for Florida's black bears!