I am sure there are more pressing matters to discuss in the House of Representatives, than to believe the mis-information about the Canadian seal hunt put out by HSUS. I read in an article from an Australian newspaper that quotes Democrat Tom Lantos as saying,
“There is no real good reason to let this needless slaughter continue and every reason to put it to a stop. We call on the Canadian government to suspend the hunt in the waters off the East Coast of Canada now and forever,” Entire Article Here
Does Mr. Lantos think Canadians just patrol the icy waters to needlessly kill seals? They don’t. If he feels this is a needless slaughter, then how does he feel about the millions of turkeys that are killed at Christmas time, or the millions of chickens that are used for chicken burgers, chicken fingers and chicken wings in restaurants around North America?
The seals are not killed to see the blood spray on the white ice! It is an industry that uses the animals for various uses – not to mention an industry that supports actual families and local Canadian economies. If the House of Reps could take a moment from their, apparently, clear schedule and read some information that differs from the HSUS propaganda they were shovelled they would read things like,
- The Atlantic harp seal population is healthy and plentiful. nearly triple what it was in the 1970s. Based on a 2004 survey, the estimated total population was 5.82 million seals. The current estimate of harp seals is approximately 5.5 million animals.
- A report published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal in September 2002 concluded that virtually all seals are taken in an acceptably humane manner.
- The hunting of harp seal pups (whitecoats) and hooded seal pups (bluebacks) is illegal – and has been since 1987. Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit the trade, sale or barter of the fur of these pups. The seals that are hunted are self-reliant, independent animals.
Click Here to see more information (including the info above) about the Canadian Seal hunt.
I don’t seal hunt. I probably never will. That does not make it wrong. What bothers me about this is how quick the House of Reps. has jumped on the anti-hunting bandwagon. The truth is, baby seals or not, anti-seal hunting groups don’t want to see ANY animals killed. This week it is seals and next week it could be turkeys, then deer, then fill in the blank.
Christmas turkey will become Christmas carrots.
