bonuspointjohn Report post Posted January 12, 2012 I was a participant this morning in a meeting with Representative Jerry Weiers. The group apologized for the problems that we had caused him, particularly in light of the fairly crude and vicious e-mails he has received. We all agreed that the voice of the hunting community has been heard and that any further work on the bill would simply prolong an ugly process. Representative Weiers has informed the AZGFD as well as the legislature that the bill is permanently pulled. For all of those on this website, it means that there will be no further action and the bill is history. The AZSFW apologized for the pain it has caused all parties and will not be pursued. I suspect that this will not be enough for some, but at the very least this issue is now gone. Thanks for those who participated in a thoughtful and cohesive manner. I enjoyed to some extent learning what people thought and I have to admit I was surprised by some of the venom. The issue was one that brought immediate response, and that is also part of the process. I would hope that for those who have vilified Rep Weiers that you can reconsider any action against his political future. He currently is also the sponsor for the AZGFD Omnibus bill and that speaks volume of the respect that the department and commission have for him. As for those of us who supported the bill, you may of course continue to question our methods and ideology it is every one of your rights to do so. Thanks for all the postings, critiques, suggestions and my new nicknames. Off to my dance lessons...BPJ 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heat Report post Posted January 12, 2012 More thoughts: Nobody has brought up the real reason why we don't accomplish as much for wildlife as many of us would like. AZSFW might want to make you believe its because there is not enough money. I submit that it has more to do with the beaurocratic red tape that our governments have strapped us with. Maybe someone from ADBSS or AES can correct me, but I don't see the checkbook of these clubs being an issue. Heck our dinky liitle club does at least two or three catchments a year and we dont get any of the tag money like the critter groups do. I believe the bottleneck lies with Game and Fish and with the Federal government when the proposed projects lie on Public land or FS land. The nightmare of doing EAs, drainage studies, ESA compliance and all the rest is what is really holding things up. I submit that even if this giant cash cow came to fruition and they really wanted to spend the money where it counts, there is still only do much you can do and so much you can spend. These are just my thoughts and I don't have the financial records of these clubs to see what they spent on projects. I have heard unsubstantiated rumors that at times ADBSS was sitting with about 3/4 of a million bucks in their checkbook. That can build a LOT of catchments my friends. Again my point is money ain't the issue, so I don't see the need for a bill like this, even if I agreed with its premise, which I obviously don't. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 12, 2012 Can anyone find out where we can actually see the status of this bill - so we can monitor it- just saying it's on hold - means squat to me ! I've tried looking it up but not sure where its at on the agenda I see where the commitee of commerce meeting was canceled 1-10-2012 As of this morning the bill is actually dead....Rep Weiers pulled it completely...it will not be pursued again....see BPJs post a few above this one. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZLance Report post Posted January 12, 2012 Hats off to Rep. Weiers for doing the right thing. Let's just hope next time he is smarter and better informed and doesn't have the Wool pulled over his eyes by a supposedly pro hunting group. Also my hat is off to all of you dedicated hunters who were not to busy to speak your mind, through posts, emails, and phone calls to get this bill quashed! This just goes to show you that when hunters unite together against an issue, we can accomplish good things. Let's just hope the boys at AZSWF have learned their lesson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted January 12, 2012 This topic is approaching 10,000 views.! Is that a new record? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ringer Report post Posted January 12, 2012 I hope our good organizations will learn from this and stop contributing to SFW. They have now exposed their real face and need to be as dead as this bogus bill. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted January 12, 2012 This topic is approaching 10,000 views.! Is that a new record? No. I once posted a pic of myself in a leopard skin thong. The traffic collapsed the entire internet. Al Gore had to re-invent it. Jennifer Aniston viewed it like 20,000 times just herself. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 12, 2012 This topic is approaching 10,000 views.! Is that a new record? No. I once posted a pic of myself in a leopard skin thong. The traffic collapsed the entire internet. Al Gore had to re-invent it. Jennifer Aniston viewed it like 20,000 times just herself. LOL!! Wow, finally some real humor!! I am not sure about the 10,000 being a record, I will have to go look. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 12, 2012 I hope our good organizations will learn from this and stop contributing to SFW. They have now exposed their real face and need to be as dead as this bogus bill. I truly believe AZSFW will no longer exist after this....Which to me is sad in many regards. I believe very strongly that we need political advocacy for wildlife and hunting related issues. And AZSFW was filling that need. Granted, this bill was a misguided effort and created a huge problem, but the need for an overarching organization fighting for sportsmens issues in AZ still remains. Any of you want to quit your jobs and volunteer full time to lobby on our behalf? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted January 12, 2012 This topic is approaching 10,000 views.! Is that a new record? No. I once posted a pic of myself in a leopard skin thong. The traffic collapsed the entire internet. Al Gore had to re-invent it. Jennifer Aniston viewed it like 20,000 times just herself. Stay away from Jennifer.......she's mine! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted January 12, 2012 This topic is approaching 10,000 views.! Is that a new record? No. I once posted a pic of myself in a leopard skin thong. The traffic collapsed the entire internet. Al Gore had to re-invent it. Jennifer Aniston viewed it like 20,000 times just herself. That's what she was doing on the computer that night. Had a hard time getting her to come to bed that night. But it's all good now. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonuspointjohn Report post Posted January 12, 2012 Another thing I have to add is that I have a lot of respect for BPJ to stand in here and take the shots he's been taking. He could made things a lot easier for himself by just remaining silent. He chose to defend something that he believes in, and that in itself is an admirable trait. I do have to pick on a couple of points he made though. AZSFW is not the only Club that knows how to work with the Legislature. I think they took a cue from some other orgs. AZSFW has not accomplished way more than other clubs. Seriously, there is no way AZSFW has accomplished as much for wildlife as the ADBSS has. I also know that in the YVRGC's 75 year history, we've done our fair share. AZSFW is not the only show in town. If you examine the Commission's history we've had very strong representation. That is not by accident. Nick Beg to disagree Nick... the $3.5 million is more than most have done through a lot of years of banquets. The passing of the legislation that has a review committee for recommendations for Commissioner will be huge when we have a "D" as governor. Certainly the other groups have done a lot in their existence and I am not denigrating that... but what Legislation has the YVRGC initiated, worked and passed through the legislature? Without Suzanne's help?...If I am ignorant and your group has done something like that I would like to know...Good buck by the way...BPJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonuspointjohn Report post Posted January 12, 2012 I hope our good organizations will learn from this and stop contributing to SFW. They have now exposed their real face and need to be as dead as this bogus bill. I truly believe AZSFW will no longer exist after this....Which to me is sad in many regards. I believe very strongly that we need political advocacy for wildlife and hunting related issues. And AZSFW was filling that need. Granted, this bill was a misguided effort and created a huge problem, but the need for an overarching organization fighting for sportsmens issues in AZ still remains. Any of you want to quit your jobs and volunteer full time to lobby on our behalf? Oh Amanda..... I suspect that absolutely none of the readers know what a "good" lobbyist costs these days. I have been to the legislature many times and had a few beers with some of the lobbyists. Generally to "carry" a bill through the legislature, get it passed and babysit the dang thing requires a $200,000.00 tab. I know a blue ribbon Coalition that paid a bunch of $$ a few years back...There will be a void if Suzanne and the AZSFW pack it in. Some will cheer that fact today, but will rue the day later. The clear winners in this are the CBD, The Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife. While the presentation of the bill was fatally flawed, I believe that there was merit to it given proper oversight. That oversight was to have been the AZSFWC... of which there were 18 member groups...But hunters have spoken and we will listen to their voices. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ringer Report post Posted January 12, 2012 Are you serious? You first take credit for generating $3.5 million from the sale of our animals before you even do that then you try the scary tree hugger garbage to justify your existence. You have proven without a doubt that you cannot be trusted with our resources. Thank the Lord that I don't know what a good lobbyist costs. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZLance Report post Posted January 12, 2012 We all just saw what you get with a $200,000 lobbyist... I think i'll pass on the next round of drinks... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
