BEWARE OF THE PETITION!

There's a petition being circulated at several public venues, like outside the Rochester Hills Public Library, that people are signing without knowing the true facts about it. Please question what petitioners tell you and do your research before signing it. Here's more information:  

A group named Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management launched a citizen-initiated ballot petition to confirm the power granted to the NRC to designate animals as game species. The bill was named The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. What this new bill basically does is it gives the power to an unelected body to designate any species as game animal and strips Michigan voters from their right to protect those animals, for good. This petition is another effort launched in retaliation to Michigan voters wanting to vote on the wolves hunting issue.

Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management is selling their initiative by saying:

• "It will protect Michigan's people's right to hunt, trap and fish." However, this right is not at stake (SB 289, now Public Act 22, passed by the House and the Senate and signed by the Gov also in May of 2013, "declares that hunting, fishing, and the taking of game are a valued part of the cultural heritage of this state and should be forever preserved". The referendum petition from the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected coalition did NOT include PA 22 and is not aimed at taking away hunting and fishing rights. 

• "It will guarantee free hunting licenses for the military."  However, the military does NOT pay full prices for licenses. Hunting licenses for the military are currently $1 (ONE DOLLAR).

• "It will help to keep Asian Carp from invading the Great Lakes." The most dangerous measure included in this "new bill" is appropriations for $1 million dollars. They tell you it is to make funds readily available to fight invasive species, like Asian Carp. A permanent solution to prevent Asian Carp from invading the Great Lakes will cost much more than 1 million dollars (electric barriers, the current -temporary prevention system-  cost 12 millions per year alone). Besides, this is a problem that needs to get addressed at a federal level as it involves more states than Michigan. The truth is that the appropriations were added to make the initiative/bill "referendum proof".  

• "It is for wildlife." However, this initiative would confirm the power granted to the Natural Resources Commission to designate animals as game species. Let's remember that the NRC is an unelected appointed-by-the-governor body with 7 members out of which NONE have a background on wildlife or conservation.

Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management has volunteers and paid collectors soliciting signatures door to door and at different venues. Their petition starts with the words “An initiative of legislation…” and has only 10 signature lines. Since Keep Michigan Wolves Protected coalition has submitted their petitions to the Secretary of State and is no longer collecting signatures, there should be no confusion now. Any petition out there from this point on is for the killing of wolves and to strip Michigan voters of their right to protect wildlife. Please, spread the word. Ask people to learn the facts before they consider signing this petition. Thanks!