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California lawmakers have unfortunately passed AB 1722, which would create a deadly loophole for killing species protected under the California Endangered Species Act.

Urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto this bill!

Under the California Endangered Species Act, it's illegal to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to do any of those things, to species who are listed as threatened or endangered.

Despite opposition from numerous organizations and a lack of justification, state lawmakers voted to pass AB 1722, which would open the door to allowing people to kill protected species if they can claim self-defense, shielding them from criminal or civil penalties.

This bill is a solution looking for a problem and blatantly anti-wolf. There are already existing laws for self-defense, and not a single incident involving wolves in the state. This bill will just make it easier for anyone who kills a wolf, or other protected species, to claim self-defense, making cases much harder to prove after the fact and prosecuting offenders more difficult.

Assemblymember Heather Hadwick, who introduced the bill, wrote that the “wolf crisis is here” and that her bills, including this one, would “provide practical tools to help livestock producers protect their animals.”

The state should be prioritizing co-existence programs, instead of catering to special interests who want to see wolves and other predators erased from the landscape.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Decision maker: California Governor Gavin Newsom

Subject: Veto AB 1722 to Save Members of Endangered Species!

As someone concerned with wildlife and endangered species, I’m writing to urge you to veto AB 1722, which would create a deadly loophole for killing species protected under the California Endangered Species Act by claiming self-defense, shielding individuals from criminal or civil penalties. This bill puts already imperiled species at risk and especially threatens wolf recovery in the state.
 
This bill is a solution looking for a problem and blatantly anti-wolf. There are already existing laws for self-defense. This bill will just make it easier for anyone who kills a wolf, or other protected species, to claim self-defense, making cases much harder to prove after the fact and prosecuting offenders much more difficult.

Even the Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife found no examples of incidents where a listed species needed to be taken for self-defense in its analysis.

The state should be prioritizing co-existence programs, instead of catering to special interests who want to see wolves and other predators erased from the landscape.

I sincerely hope you will veto this bill. Thank you for your consideration of this timely matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.