Anti-Hunting Legislator Likely Head of Key House Committee for Sportsmen

2/25/10




The next chairman of a key house committee with oversight over federal funding for wildlife conservation has a long history of opposing hunting, trapping, and gun ownership.

U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D- VA) is expected to be named Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. This subcommittee oversees funding for the Department of Interior and its various agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This makes this chair one of the most powerful positions influencing public policy on federal lands including whether to keep such land open to sportsmen.

Rep. Moran has sponsored and cosponsored a number of anti-hunting and anti-trapping bills during his time in Congress. One of his most high profile battles against sportsmen was an effort to ban the use of bait to hunt black bears on federal land despite being considered a valid management option by wildlife professionals in numerous states. This effort earned him the support of the nation’s leading anti-hunting group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Further anti-hunting and anti-trapping bills supported by Rep. Moran during the current Congressional session include co-sponsorships of:

HR 3710- which would prohibit the use of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System; and

HR 2480- “Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2009” which would enforce more restrictive labeling requirements on fur.

Rep. Moran’s anti efforts were not the only thing that earned him applause from HSUS. In February, 2009, he helped form the “Creature Caucus” in order to promote animal rights issues in Washington. The head of HSUS’ lobbying wing, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, gushed about this group at the time by saying, “We could not be more excited about this new organization of humane lawmakers.”

He has also supported anti-gun legislation earning himself the number four position on the NRA’s 2006 Top Anti-Gun representatives. He has supported bills such as “assault weapon” bans, prohibitions on transferring ammunition to juveniles, and mandates for additional background checks at gun shows. Rep. Moran also supported legislation requiring ballistics testing data from guns be kept in a national database.

Rep. Moran’s expected move is part of a domino effect of legislators shifting committee positions that began with the recent passing of Rep. John Murtha (D- PA).

“Sportsmen are right to be wary that an obvious anti is getting ready to control the gavel for a committee overseeing much of the nation’s conservation policy,” said Rob Sexton, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) vice president for government affairs. “The USSA is going to watch this committee like a hawk and be sure that sound science and sportsmen’s voices are not ignored.”

Moran is the perfect example of the truth of the old adage that "All things come to he who waits". Seniority dictates all assignments in our beloved Congress. This is one of the worst left wingers in Congress -and, like all such, he comes from a solidly left wing district. He's also a perfect example of what we Irish call a "flannelmouth" -meaning that when he speaks (on TV for example) he smiles and exerts his Irish charm - and says nothing of substance. Few TV viewers ever suspect his ultra left wing views - because TV anchors never call him out on those views - and, yeah, I include Fox. My thanks to the poster bringing this latest outrage to our attention.

He who lives by the sword will die by the sword! Nuff said.

Woodrow S:

The problem is that types like Moran come from Congressional districts that think almost to the last voter exactly as he does. (Other examples are Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman) Forget about voter retribution against people like them. (For that matter, I have watched Pennsylvania go as left wing as NY so just when do PA voters plan this "die by the sword" against people like Moran?)