Alaskans Seek an End to Aerial Hunting
Over 57,000 signatures submitted to get initiative on 2008 ballot
 Under Alaska's current predator control program, more than 500 wolves have been killed by aerial gunning in the past three years. Now that the snow is falling in the state again, new gunning permits have been issued to trophy hunters hoping to take home a wolf or bear carcass. These hunters will shoot at their helpless prey from airplanes or pursue them until they are too exhausted to run anymore, then land before firing on them point-blank.
Alaskans are fighting back against this cruel and blatantly exploitive management of their wildlife by taking political action. Alaskans for Wildlife, a statewide coalition of scientists, recreationists and their supporters, have collected the signatures of over 57,000 registered Alaskan voters across the state. On Tuesday, October 24th, the group delivered these signatures in eight cardboard boxes to the state Division of Elections in Anchorage. Here, election officials will verify the signatures so that an initiative to end aerial gunning by private hunters can be placed on the 2008 ballot, giving voters the opportunity to decide whether the state should allow this barbaric practice.
Alaskans have already voted twice (in 1996 and 2000) to ban aerial hunting of wolves. Yet both times, the Alaska Legislature overturned public consensus by ratifying a law that authorizes the state to issue aerial gunning permits. Initiative proponents claim this is evidence that the majority of Alaskans are opposed to aerial hunting, and that state officials care more about getting permit revenues from out-of-state trophy hunters than representing the interests of concerned Alaskans and the wildlife they are trying to protect.
What You Can Do:
Learn more about Alaska's brutal aerial gunning program and how you can take action to stop it. |
