Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

Washington: Committee Hearings to be Held on Ivory Regulation Bills

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Washington: Committee Hearings to be Held on Ivory Regulation Bills

Yesterday morning, House Bill 1131 received a public hearing in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.  Sponsored by state Representative Eric Pettigrew (D-37), HB 1131 was introduced with the supposed intent of curbing poaching of elephants in Africa and helping to end the illegal ivory trade.  Unfortunately, HB 1131 and its companion bill Senate Bill 5241, sponsored by state Senator Steve Litzow (R-41), would accomplish neither of their purported objectives.  The bills would, however, harm those who have no part in these activities; firearm owners, sportsmen, hunters, recreational shooters and gun collectors who have legally purchased firearms (and knives, jewelry and other items) that incorporate ivory features for decades. 

Historically, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintained the position that most ivory in the U.S. has been legally imported and that its sale in the U.S. did not materially contribute to the illegal ivory trade. Nevertheless, under HB 1131 and SB 5241, the import, sale, purchase, barter, and possession with intent to sell of any ivory (defined to include mammoth ivory) or ivory product would be prohibited.  Virtually any lawful item containing any amount of ivory, with very limited and narrow exceptions, would be rendered valueless as it would be a felony for you to sell it or for another person to buy it.

The proposed ban allows for some antiques over 100 years old to be sold or traded, but the onus would be on the owner to prove that the ivory meets this requirement.  In most cases, legal, pre-ban ivory pieces are not that old, and lack the documentation required to meet this exemption.  The bills provide no guidance as to what documentation would be considered “sufficient” to establish the age of an item.

House Bill 1131 is scheduled for another hearing next week in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee where further public testimony will be accepted. Also next week, Senate Bill 5241 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Natural Resources and Parks Committee.  Your NRA-ILA will continue to keep you updated when more information is available.

Please contact members of both committees as well as your state legislator and politely urge them to oppose House Bill 1131 and Senate Bill 5241. Contact information for both committees is provided below.

 

Legislative Hotline:
(800) 562-6000

Senate Natural Resources and Parks Committee:

Senator Kirk Pearson, Chair (R-39)
Email
(360) 786-7676

Senator Brian Dansel (R-7), Vice Chair
Email
(360) 786-7612

Senator Brian Hatfield (D-19)
Email
(360) 786-7636

Senator Maralyn Chase (D-32)
Email
(360) 786-7662

Senator Mike Hewitt (R-16)
Email
(360) 786-7630

Senator Rosemary McAuliffe (D-1)
Email
(360) 786-7600

Senator Judy Warnick (R-13)
Email
(360) 786-7624

 

 

House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee:

Representative Brian Blake, Chair (D-19)
Email
(360) 786-7870

Representative Kristine Lytton, Vice Chair (D-40)
Email
(360) 786-7800

Representative Vincent Buys (R-42)
Email
(360) 786-7854

Representative Tom Dent (R-13)
Email
(360) 786-7932

Representative Bruce Chandler (R-15)
Email
(360) 786-7960

Representative Hans Dunshee (D-44)
Email
(360) 786-7804

Representative Christopher Hurst (D-31)
Email
(360) 786-7866

Representative Joel Kretz (R-7)
Email
(360) 786-7988

Representative Ed Orcutt (R-20)
Email
(360) 786-7990

Representative Eric Pettigrew (D-37)
Email
(360) 786-7838

Representative Joe Schmick (R-9)
Email
(360) 786-7844

Representative Derek Stanford (D-1)
Email
(360) 786-7928

Representative Kevin Van De Wege (D-24)
Email
(360) 786-7916

  

IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington Ivory
TRENDING NOW
Kamala for Gun Confiscation: In Her Own Words

News  

Monday, September 16, 2024

Kamala for Gun Confiscation: In Her Own Words

During the September 10 presidential debate, President Donald Trump correctly highlighted Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s support for gun confiscation. A visibly defensive Harris claimed, “We're not taking anybody's guns away. So stop with the ...

Kamala Harris is an Existential Threat to the Second Amendment and Supports Gun Confiscation

News  

Monday, July 29, 2024

Kamala Harris is an Existential Threat to the Second Amendment and Supports Gun Confiscation

Since President Joe Biden unceremoniously dropped out, or was forced out, of the 2024 presidential race on July 21, Vice President Kamala Harris has been effectively coronated as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Florida: Vote "YES" on Amendment 2 - Protect the Right to Fish & Hunt

Monday, October 21, 2024

Florida: Vote "YES" on Amendment 2 - Protect the Right to Fish & Hunt

The upcoming 2024 General Election puts forth a proposal to Florida voters on the ballot to amend the State Constitution to affirm and protect Floridians' Right to Fish and Hunt. Amendment 2 states:

Kamala Harris is an Existential Threat to the Second Amendment and Supports Gun Confiscation

News  

Monday, July 29, 2024

Kamala Harris is an Existential Threat to the Second Amendment and Supports Gun Confiscation

Since President Joe Biden unceremoniously dropped out, or was forced out, of the 2024 presidential race on July 21, Vice President Kamala Harris has been effectively coronated as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Kamala’s Big Problem: She’s Already Shown Us Who She Is

News  

Monday, October 28, 2024

Kamala’s Big Problem: She’s Already Shown Us Who She Is

At a town hall event on October 21 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Democrat presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris was asked how she would make “impactful and immediate progress around gun violence” if she was ...

Kamala Harris’ Record on Gun Control and Second Amendment

News  

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Kamala Harris’ Record on Gun Control and Second Amendment

Vice President Kamala Harris has consistently campaigned for draconian gun control laws, which severely limit the rights of lawful gun owners.

NRA’s Political Victory Fund Endorses President Donald J. Trump

News  

Saturday, May 18, 2024

NRA’s Political Victory Fund Endorses President Donald J. Trump

Today, the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is honored to announce its full endorsement of President Donald J. Trump for re-election to a second term as President of the United States of America. ...

NRA Scores Legal Victory Against ATF; “Pistol Brace Rule” Enjoined From Going Into Effect Against NRA Members

Monday, April 1, 2024

NRA Scores Legal Victory Against ATF; “Pistol Brace Rule” Enjoined From Going Into Effect Against NRA Members

NRA Members Among the Largest Class Protected from Draconian Rule

Tim Walz Hunts for Voters in Outdoor Photo Op

News  

Monday, October 21, 2024

Tim Walz Hunts for Voters in Outdoor Photo Op

History shows, when anti-gun politicians take to the field, gun owners have good reason to be concerned.

Kamala Harris Claims to Own a Glock, But Supported Handgun Bans for YOU!

News  

Monday, October 14, 2024

Kamala Harris Claims to Own a Glock, But Supported Handgun Bans for YOU!

In a lame attempt to run away from her radical anti-gun and anti-Second Amendment record, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has spent the last several weeks claiming that she is a gun owner.

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.