Bill from Gold Canyon

John, come on, of course the Sheep Club supports the bill, they helped pay the Lobbiest who wrote it. Over the last several years the Commission has been trying to get all interested parties to come to Commission meetings. That why it formed the Conservationist Committee. The system works best when all are given an equal opportunity to participate. This Bill simply limits, not expands, this opportunity. I am a "Sportsman" under any definition of that word. I am a hunter, angler and an admitted outdoor "nut." I believe you are, too. We have different views on some points, but that is a good thing. What I am saying is all should have the same opportunity to participate - This Bill restricts that privilage and that is why I'm against it. On the issue of "who pays the bills" - We all do. I pay a whole lot more than some others do, but that doesn't make me any better than anyone else. The fact is, boaters who are non anglers pay just as much and sometimes more than anglers. Shooters, who are non hunters pay the same thing as hunter's do. Yes, you and I also pay for big game tags, but then, we're the ones who get to go hunt those tags, too. If the issue here is "who has more money to spend," then I'm really on the short end of the deal. I really believe that the phrase "We the People" means all the people, not just a few! Guess that's something else we disagree on. Enuf for now, I have to fix dinner - Antelope burgers. I'm going shooting clays in the morning if it stops raining, but will try to make it down town in the afternoon. Hope to see you there.

Simple answer, John. We are afraid that a very small group of people will end up using the Commission for their own purposes and not the general good of wildlife and Arizona's citiziens and the vast majority of licensed hunters and anglers!!!!! So far I don't know of a single PETA member or Center for Diversity member that has made it to tthe Senate, and certainly not to the Commission. Your fears are totally unfounded!

The answer is really simple, especially if you look at facts and not hype. Under the present system anyone who meets the minimum qualifications can apply to the Governor for NOMINATION to the Commission. He/she doesn't have to be a member of some club or special organization, they send in a letter. Most Governors then pick the best qualified applicants and ask for public input. (Remember, when Brewer nominated her first Commissioner there was no public input until the nomination got to the Senate.) This input includes letters, email, etc from individuals and, usually, a public forum sponsored by one or more "sportsmen's group". Each group/club then does its own thing (some vote openly, some don't) and decides who they support and makes that known to the Governor. The Governor then sends a name to the Senate and Public Hearings are scheduled and held there. All are invited to attend and give their input. To say that 99.9% of the citizens don't even know this is going on is just pure bunk. What the sponsors and proponents of this Legislation want to do is CONTROL whose name(s) go to the Governor. By doing so they will limit the whole process. How is that fair? I guess the fact that I've been hunting and fishing in Arizona since the 50's isn't enough (by the way I ran a trap line when I was a kid too); now I have to join a bunch of clubs, too. I think anyone who has the guts to throw his or her hat in the ring ought to be able to do so without a bunch of ego charged people standing in the way! I say again, "the system ain't broke and don't need fix'n!"

Why to those who have offered this legislation, and I guess those who support it, want to give 20% of the voice to ranchers. This legislaion provides that one out of the five board members must be from the ranching community. Undoubtedly, there are some ranchers who have and will continue to support wildlife on their ranches. But, for every rancher who supports wildlife and allows hunters on their land to hunt, there are many who either deny us access (even accross their land to hunt public land) or want to charge us a "trespass fee." For those of use who hunt white tail this is getting critical. I believe ranchers are only included in this legislation because without their vote and lobby in the Legislature this won't pass. And, if they get this through the 90% of hunters and the rest of Arizona's citizens who don't belong to one or more of the "sponsoring organizations" will also be reduced to a minority voice.