Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Hunting

Loving the Oryx to Death

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Obama Administration sides with friends of animals... and imposes a death sentence on an African game species. 

THE SCIMITAR-HORNED ORYX is extinct in its native Africa, yet breeding the animals, and hunting them, in the United States has brought the species back from the brink. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, under the Bush administration, admitted that success in 2005 when granting an exemption from the Endangered Species Act for the animal. 

“The Service recognizes the important contribution captive breeding has made to the continued survival of these species, which have been removed from (in the case of the oryx) or greatly reduced in numbers in the wild,” USFWS stated in the rule covering the exemption. “Many game ranches within the United States have been breeding and maintaining these species on their properties and, as a result of strong management practices, have offered hunting of these species as a way to manage the size and health of their herds.”  

But a lawsuit filed by Friends of Animals and other anti-hunting groups following the ruling caused the USFWS to reconsider and, subsequently, change the ruling.

Ironically, the scimitar-horned oryx might now be doomed to extinction by the very anti-hunting groups that claim they want to protect the species—and by an Obama administration agency making a ruling for politics rather than the good of the species.  

Such sweeping rulemaking by federal agencies under the Obama administration is nothing new. In fact, recent comments by President Barack Obama show exactly where he’s coming from when it comes to relying on congressional action to get his programs implemented.  

“You know, it turns out that our founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change than I would like sometimes,” Obama said in a recent “Today Show” interview with Matt Lauer.  

Yet Obama and his subordinates at various agencies have brought about plenty of change that would not have been possible had they gone through typical congressional channels.  

An excellent example is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) ruling last year requiring gun dealers in several states bordering America’s southern border to keep a registry of long-gun purchasers—a move that would never have a chance in Congress. That rule requires about 8,500 gun dealers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas to report sales of two or more semi-automatic centerfire rifles with detachable magazines to the same person within a five-day period.  

As the Obama administration continues to bypass Congress to push its “hope and change” on the American people, it seems the president becomes more emboldened with each new decree. One can only wonder what might be next.  

Fortunately, we can put an end to that—and all of Obama’s anti-gun plans for a second term—by working hard now to get out the vote this November. Don’t wait until October to get started. Get informed, get engaged and get out there and work to save your freedom.  

TRENDING NOW
Washington: Gun-Free Zone Expansion Bill Scheduled for Hearing on Tuesday

Friday, March 14, 2025

Washington: Gun-Free Zone Expansion Bill Scheduled for Hearing on Tuesday

On Tuesday, March 18th, the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 5098, a gun-free zone expansion bill. The hearing has been set for 10:30AM.

NRA Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order Protecting Second Amendment Rights

News  

Second Amendment  

Friday, February 7, 2025

NRA Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order Protecting Second Amendment Rights

Today, the White House announced a new Executive Order to protect and expand the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. This is the first action taken by President Donald J. Trump to carry through ...

MA Supreme Judicial Court Holds Old Nonresident Carry Licensing Scheme Unconstitutional But Upholds New Law

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

MA Supreme Judicial Court Holds Old Nonresident Carry Licensing Scheme Unconstitutional But Upholds New Law

On March 11, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts issued two decisions concerning the Commonwealth’s firearms carry licensing scheme for nonresidents.

Vermont: Crossover Day Defeats All Anti-Gun Bills for 2025

Friday, March 14, 2025

Vermont: Crossover Day Defeats All Anti-Gun Bills for 2025

Today, March 14th, is  the "crossover" deadline in the Vermont legislature. Bills that fail to advance out of the chamber of origin are considered "dead" for the session.

Oregon Court Of Appeals Reverses Lower Court Decision, Lifts Hold on Ballot Measure 114

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Oregon Court Of Appeals Reverses Lower Court Decision, Lifts Hold on Ballot Measure 114

On Wednesday, March 12th, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision that had declared unconstitutional Ballot Measure 114, which imposed a permit-to-purchase scheme and banned the possession of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. ...

New Mexico: Semi-Auto Ban Legislation Held Over in Committee Until Friday

Thursday, March 6, 2025

New Mexico: Semi-Auto Ban Legislation Held Over in Committee Until Friday

Yesterday the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee met to continue discussions on Senate Bill 279 (GoSAFE). The author did not accept the committee substitute to amend the near all-encompassing ban on semi-auto firearms with equally ...

California: Bill to Restrict Self Defense Withdrawn by Sponsor

Friday, March 14, 2025

California: Bill to Restrict Self Defense Withdrawn by Sponsor

On Wednesday afternoon, Assemblymember Zbur announced he is withdrawing Assembly Bill 1333 that would have restricted self-defense rights in California. The legislation, which was strongly supported by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, ...

Oregon: Permit-to-Purchase and FFL-Killer Bills in Committee Next Week!

Friday, March 14, 2025

Oregon: Permit-to-Purchase and FFL-Killer Bills in Committee Next Week!

In the wake of this week's court decision on Ballot Measure 114, anti-gun radicals in the legislature intend to add insult to injury. 

Colorado: FOID Bill Passes House Judiciary With More Amendments

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Colorado: FOID Bill Passes House Judiciary With More Amendments

Yesterday, March 11th, Senate Bill 25-003 underwent another transformation during a late-night hearing in the House Judiciary committee, ultimately passing with amendments along a party-line vote. 

New Mexico: Anti-Gun Extremists Introduce Sweeping Gun Ban

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

New Mexico: Anti-Gun Extremists Introduce Sweeping Gun Ban

As they have tried in the past, anti-gun radicals in the New Mexico Senate have introduced Senate Bill 279, the "GOSAFE Act," a near all-encompassing ban on semi-automatic and NFA firearms.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.