SECOND AMENDMENT ACTION ALERT NETWORK
(Just as a reminder, you are receiving this Alert because you have asked to be informed)
!! ACTION ALERT !!
RADICAL IVORY BAN MOVING IN STATE SENATE.
VOTE SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016
Sportsmen and women are, first and foremost, conservationists who believe in the rule of law.
Delaware’s sportsmen and women are adamantly opposed to the illegal ivory trade. No one condones poaching in any form and everyone agrees that the illegal, unethical and immoral slaughter of elephants, rhinoceros and hippopotamus for profit by poachers and other outlaws must end.
But what about ivory legally taken as a part of legal and ethical hunting operations?
What about all of the things made of ivory or made with ivory that were legally imported and are now legally owned by Delaware’s law-abiding citizens?
What about those very expensive African trophy mounts you have worked so hard to collect and have always viewed as investments?
What will happen to those items when and if the radical and ill-advised ban contained in Senate Substitute #1 for Senate Bill 156 becomes the law here in Delaware?
There are both economic and constitutional problems with SS#1 for SB 156. This radical bill which is inspired by the radical animal rights and rabidly anti-hunting organization known as the Humane Society of the United States would ban the sale, purchase and possession with intent to sell otherwise legal ivory taken according to law from a number of sources including elephants, hippos and whales.
ECONOMIC IMPACT:
- Legally purchased firearms with ivory inlaid stocks, ivory front sights/ beads or ivory grips would become worthless – you could never sell them and neither could your heirs or your estate after you pass.
- The same is true of jewelry made of ivory, knives with ivory handles, scrimshaw items, pool cues with ivory inlays, furniture with ivory inlays, etc. – those items would become worthless.
- Knick-knacks, curios, carved items of art and other “collectibles” either made of ivory or containing ivory parts or inlays would become worthless.
- Sportsmen who have collected trophy mounts from hunting trips to Africa and elsewhere could never sell those mounts to Cabela’s – and neither could their heirs – those items would become worthless.
- What about the economic impact on jewelry stores, local merchants and auctioneers? What happens to their investments and their businesses?
- What happens to the collectors and the “accumulators” who have spent a lifetime building their collections that are now worthless?
CONSTITUTIONAL & LEGAL QUESTIONS:
Fifth Amendment Violation – Because SS#1 for SB 156 deprives law-abiding citizens of the economic value of otherwise legal items such as guns, knives, jewelry, decorative pieces, collectables and works of art, SS#1 for SB 156 constitutes a Fifth Amendment “governmental taking” and the State of Delaware is liable for the lost value of those items.
Article I §8 of the US Constitution gives exclusive jurisdiction over both interstate commerce and international commerce to Congress – the states have no authority to regulate either interstate commerce or international commerce – yet SS#1 for SB 156 does both – and is, therefore, constitutionally suspect.
SS#1 for SB 156 gives DNREC unfettered regulatory powers to enforce the provisions of this radical ban on otherwise legal ivory. Given DNREC’s history of patently illegal regulatory actions, giving DNREC blanket regulatory authority over interstate and international trade – not to mention private transactions between Delaware residents – is both unwise and maybe even illegal.
The federal government already regulates the sale, possession and transfer of ivory – thus SS#1 for SB 156 is (a) not needed and (2) probably preempted by federal law.
The full text of SS#1 for SB 156 may be read here.
CALL TO ACTION
Call your Senator today – politely and respectfully ask them to oppose SS#1 for SB 156.
- Tell them that this is a federal issue – Delaware has no business attempting to regulate or affect interstate or international commerce.
- Tell them to protect your property rights and the rights of your heirs and your estate to dispose of those items of value that you currently own
- Tell them to respect the law-abiding people of Delaware who have invested in collectables such as guns, knives, art work, carvings and jewelry and who must not be deprived of the economic value of their investments.
- Tell them to vote “NO” on SS#1 for SB 156.
Senate Democrats may be contacted as follows:
Wilmington – 577-8744; Dover – 744-4286; Georgetown – 856-5108
Senate Republicans may be contacted as follows:
Wilmington – 302-577-8714 or Dover – 302-744-4048
YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT – LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
Look for this Action Alert Network to keep you informed as this issue progresses.
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