EMERGENCY ACTION NEEDED FOR WASHINGTON'S WILDLIFE!!!

Please complete the calls to action listed below from our friends at Washington Wildlife First before 12:00 P.T. TODAY!!!

1. Take a few moments to register your opposition to SJR 8208 at Monday's hearing. Click here, select your position as “Con,” and enter your name, email, address, state, zip code, and phone number. Hit “Submit.” 

2. Submit written testimony. Click here to submit written testimony to the Senate Agriculture Committee prior to Monday's hearing. Please tell committee members why you oppose permanently entrenching "traditional" fishing, hunting, and trapping in the constitution.

3. Testify over Zoom or in person at the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. Click here to testify in person in Olympia and here to speak over Zoom. You may not get a chance to speak, but if you do, you will have only two minutes, so be succinct, direct, and courteous! Email info@wawildlifefirst.org if you plan to testify and need help, and see our campaign page for more information and detailed talking points.

4. If your senator is sponsoring SJR 8208 or sits or on the Senate agriculture committee, please take the time to write a personal message. Ask your senator to stand up for the fish and wildlife of our state, rather than pushing the NRA's agenda.

Sens. Keith Wagoner (R-39th) and Mark Schoesler (R-9th) are both sponsors and members of the committee.

Additional sponsors are Sens. Matt Boehnke (R-8th), Phil Fortunato (R-31st), Karen Keiser (D-33rd), and Lynda Wilson (R-17th).

Other members of the Senate agriculture committee are: Kevin Van De Wege (D-24th), Jesse Salomon (D-32nd), Marko Liias (D-21st), Ron Muzzall (R-10th), Shelly Short, (R-7th), Sharon Shewmake (D-42nd), Derek Stanford (D-1st), and Judy Warnick (R-13th).

Click here to find out if one of these senators represents you and to send them a direct message.

Talking Points
Here are a few suggested talking points to inform your comments, but you can find more information on our campaign page.

SJR 8208 would frustrate measures designed to promote biodiversity, combat climate change, prevent cruelty, safeguard the intrinsic value of nature, and protect the ability of the vast majority of Washingtonians to enjoy wildlife.
Under SJR 8208, the "inalienable right" to hunt, fish, and trap would only be subject to “reasonable” regulation by state legislative and executive branches, permanently blocking the citizens of Washington from changing state fish and wildlife policy through ballot initiatives.

SJR 8208 would prevent the Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission from approving science-based regulations that prioritize conservation over the push to “maximize” hunting, fishing, and trapping.
The proposed amendment would even hinder the legislature from passing conservation measures, because it would subject every law that limits hunting, fishing, and trapping to a potential legal challenge about whether it is “reasonable.”

SJR 8208 would cement in the state Constitution the right to use “traditional” hunting and trapping methods that are cruel and ecologically destructive, permanently preventing Washingtonians from shaping state wildlife policy in accordance with evolving science and values.

This proposal elevates the interests of the 2% of Washingtonians who hunt (and the tiny number who trap) over the rights of the rest of the state population, the vast majority of whom appreciate the intrinsic value of nature and enjoy wildlife through hiking, camping, birding, boating, and wildlife watching.

A constitutional amendment to protect the “right to hunt” is not necessary, because hunting and fishing in Washington are not under threat. Most Washingtonians support the continuation of legal, regulated hunting, and no conservation group or government official is trying to eliminate these activities.

Our senators have a responsibility to protect and preserve state wildlife and the rights of all Washington citizens--not promote the agenda of the NRA, which has already succeeded in passing similar measures in 23 other states.

Thank you for taking the time to speak up against this dangerous bill!