The Hawaii state legislature is considering House Bill 1012, which would prohibit the display or performance of live wild or exotic animals in the state. In the bill text (see attached), the sponsor refers to an isolated incident from 20 years ago to claim that all wild or exotic animals used for commercial display are subject to extreme stress and inhumane treatment.
HI HB 1012 will go before the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee for a hearing on Wednesday, February 11, at 2:30PM PST. Please take a moment to contact the members of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee with a short e-mail, phone call, or FAX. Politely express your opposition to a ban on wild and exotic displays and performances, and urge the Committee members to vote NO on HB 1012. Sample talking points for your reference are listed at the end of this alert, but please use your own words and your own experiences as a circus animal supporter in your remarks.
Thank for your help!
Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee members:
Group email for all 16 Committee members (copy and paste into the “To” section of your email):
repmckelvey@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repwoodson@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repbelatti@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repbrower@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repcreagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov; rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov; rephashem@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repkawakami@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repclee@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repnakashima@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmoshiro@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repsanbuenaventura@Capitol.hawaii.gov; reptakayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repfukumoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov; repmcdermott@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Angus L.K. McKelvey, Chair
Phone: 808-586-6160
FAX: 808-586-6161
repmckelvey@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Justin H. Woodson, Vice Chair
Phone: 808-586-6210
FAX: 808-586-6211
repwoodson@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Della Au Belatti
Phone: 808-586-9425
FAX: 808-586-9431
repbelatti@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Tom Brower
Phone: 808-586-8520
FAX: 808-586-8524
repbrower@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Richard P. Creagan
Phone: 808-586-9605
FAX: 808-586-9608
repcreagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Sharon E. Har
Phone: 808-586-8500
FAX: 808-586-8504
rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Mark J. Hashem
Phone: 808-586-6510
FAX: 808-586-6511
rephashem@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Derek S.K. Kawakami
Phone: 808-586-8435
FAX: 808-586-8437
repkawakami@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Chris Lee
Phone: 808-586-9450
FAX: 808-586-9456
repclee@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Mark M. Nakashima
Phone: 808-586-6680
FAX: 808-586-6684
repnakashima@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Marcus R. Oshiro
Phone: 808-586-6700
FAX: 808-586-6702
repmoshiro@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Joy A. San Buenaventura
Phone: 808-586-6530
FAX: 808-586-6531
repsanbuenaventura@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Gregg Takayama
Phone: 808-586-6340
FAX: 808-586-6341
reptakayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Ryan I. Yamane
Phone: 808-586-6150
FAX: 808-586-6151
repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Beth Fukumoto Chang
Phone: 808-586-9460
FAX: not listed
repfukumoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Bob McDermott
Phone: 808-586-9730
FAX: 808-586-9738
repmcdermott@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Sample talking points:
The following are suggestions for your correspondence, but please use your own words, and you do not need to include every bullet point. Please keep all correspondence respectful.
· All circuses and exotic animal exhibitors are required to have a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) exhibitor’s license. These are the same rules that apply to zoos. USDA conducts regular unannounced inspections of performing animals and their stable areas, and their inspection reports are a matter of public record.
· Animal exhibitors are also subject to state and local animal cruelty laws in Hawaii. Such regulations provide protection to all performing animals and allow for the prosecution of those who neglect or mistreat the animals in their care.
· If any animal is being mistreated in any environment, then the right answer is to enforce existing laws and regulations to punish bad actors, as opposed to punishing an entire industry and the public who enjoy exotic animal exhibitions and performances.
· By prohibiting the use of the listed animals in any performance the bill would also prohibit the use of such animals in film, TV or other exhibition activities.
· Circuses and other animal exhibitions contribute to the local economies of the communities they perform in and help support charitable groups and municipal arenas.
· There is no scientific or factual basis for the assumption in the bill that animals that do not travel regularly are safer or better cared for than those that do. Numerous studies have been done that validate the good welfare of circus animals.
· Such legislation will do nothing but further the agenda of animal rights groups who want to see an end to all animal-human interactions.
|