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PENDING US BAN ON IVORY**EMAIL YOUR LETTERS BY MONDAY 3/17/14
If you are not already familiar with the pending ban on antique and vintage ivory (including goods made from it), we ask that you read this KNIFE WORLD article.
An excellent article providing a broader view of the proposed ban and its potential effects on small businesses, individuals, and the African elephant population, written by attorney Robert A. Mitchell, Jr., can be found here:Domestic Ivory Ban Crushes Small Businesses
On March 20, 2014 the Presidential Task Force's Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking, the group that has proposed these draconian regulations, will hold an important hearing. Concerned persons who cannot attend need to submit written comments about the ban by Monday, March 17. Comments can be e-mailed to Mr. Cade London, Special Assistant, USFWS International Affairs, at cade_london@fws.gov.
Mr. Mitchell has prepared a draft letter to express small business’s and collector’s views about the impending Domestic Ivory Ban, and why it will hurt rather than help the elephant population. Use the whole thing, your favorite parts, or ignore it and submit your own comments, but SUBMIT SOMETHING. It is critical that you get your comments on record by the deadline; if your views are not expressed at this meeting, they will be missing from the government’s record, only making it more difficult for later challenges to the ban. CLICK HERE for a Word DOCX file of the Mitchell draft letter.
Knife Rights has presented some advice and key points to emphasize in your letter, CLICK HERE to see them.
We also suggest contacting your Congressional representatives to inform them on the issues. Find your Member of Congress here, Senators here.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on
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Ivory knives are nice but my concern on this is not that.
This law will provide that if you own or sell ANYTHING ivory, you are guilty until proven innocent.
Imagine:
You have a shrimshawed pipe, the item has been passed down through your family for more generations than anyone remembers. The heirloom gets confiscated because it is "some form of ivory".
You are charged and the burden of proof is now on you.
The agency's involved DO NOT have to proof it is elephant ivory, they DO NOT have to prove it is less than 100 years old. The pictures you have with your great grandfather holding the pipe ARE NOT admissible. Your only recourse is to have a DNA test done on the item, oh and you also need a carbon dating test. So now you are out thousands of dollars and the family heirloom has been destroyed to provide the proof you need to be proven innocent.
The 5th amendment reads
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation
The presumption of innocence is essential to the criminal process. The mere mention of the phrase presumed innocent keeps judges and juries focused on whether the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the alleged acts. The people of the United States have rejected the alternative to a presumption of innocence—a presumption of guilt—as being inquisitorial and contrary to the principles of a free society.
Since when do we enact laws that allow the government agencies the right to define you as guilty with no proof or due process?
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Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on
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Thanks for reminding us, to get behind this, Jan.
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But hey the FWS says its ok to hunt elephants
Hunters
How will movement of sport-hunted trophies be affected?
These administrative actions will not significantly impact the import into the United States of African elephant sport-hunted trophies. The AECA specifically allows such imports. We will limit imports to two African elephant trophies per hunter per year. This limitation will affect very few importers. http://www.fws.gov/international/travel-and-trade/ivory-ban-questio...
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Make sure your letters have been emailed please
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Permalink Reply by Mark Zalesky on
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It is crucial that everyone get their emails in today -- get your opposition on record with the committee that has been pushing these feel-good regulations through. There are plenty of ideas for your letter in the links above, please take a few moments to let your voice be heard.
Mark Z
White River Knives
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