I’m Not A Criminal:Bill S-203 Passes
For those of us who hunt and fish – this was a good thing. Those of us with fishing rods and hunting rifles in our hands are not criminals. This legislation brings back to reality a different and, somewhat, opposing bill C-373. The latter bill (C-373) would have made it illegal to kill a deer or reel in a fish for your dinner table. Both Bills were tabled to address the current aging animal cruelty legislation that the courts can uphold. I think we can all agree that is a good thing.
Guess which bill animals rights groups favored?
A press release written by the CSIA (Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association) and posted on Ripple Outdoors said the following,
In recent days the animal rights groups have mounted a last minute ‘blitz’ in the press and in Ottawa against S-203, and against legal protection for fishing and hunting. These are the same groups who led the campaign to ban spring bear hunting in Ontario and they are out to make it a crime to take your kids fishing. Entire Artice Here
So what was so bad about S-203 that animal rights groups did not like? I don’t know. It probably has something to do with the fact that anglers and hunters can’t be considered criminals when we kill wild game and fish. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters goes into more details about S-203 by saying,
Bill S-203 is a simple and straightforward response to the demand by Canadians that the penalties for anyone convicted of abusing an animal be increased, which the O.F.A.H. and wildlife federations across the country strongly support. While the existing defences will continue to apply, as will the body of case law that has been developed over the years for interpreting the provisions of the law, enforcement officers and the courts will now be able to apply increased penalties that are more in line with the severity of the crime.
“We hope that the changes brought forward in Bill S-203 will act as a substantial deterrent to potential offenders who would otherwise engage in animal abuse with little fear of reprisal. The fact that the bill provides for changes to the law without penalizing legal, lawful, heavily regulated animal use industries is a testament to the balanced approach taken by the Senator. The passage of legislation is often a balancing act between competing interests, and in this case, we think the Senator and Parliamentarians who supported the bill got it right” Entire Article Here
I don’t understand the carrot crusade many animal rights groups are charging into. Forget about hunting and fishing for a moment. An overwhelming of Canadians are guilty of animal cruelty the moment they walk into a hamburger joint or pick a some T-bones for the barbecue. The end result of the animal rights crowd is a total ban on any animal killing – for any reason!
In some camps, there is rejoicing when meat eating humans die. I found an article in the Edmonton Sun that shares some comments made by, Paul Watson. He is the head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Authority. The article states that Mr. Watson had this to say to the press and families of the seal hunters who drowned tragically during the seal hunt.
As friends and family mourned the deaths of the Quebec sealers, Watson told the media he considered the killing of young seals “a greater tragedy.” … “These men are sadistic baby killers and that might offend some people but it is the unvarnished truth – they are vicious killers who are now pleading for sympathy because some of their own who died while engaged in a viciously brutal activity.” Entire Article Here
Canadians who were making their living, in a way that Mr. Watson does not approve, died in the cold harshness of the ocean. They were someone’s brother, or father. According to, Mr. Watson, the killing of animals is more tragic than this?
Glad the human race can count on you, Mr. Watson. Canadians took note of your comments and the group you represent.
The author, Kerry Diotte, of the Edmonton Sun article made some good points. I am not sure he it totally for a seal hunt, but his statements were humanely expressed. Please read the article.
As an outdoor media communicator who enjoys an outdoor lifestyle involving hunting & fishing I applaud my MP Gary Goodyear for his positive feed back regarding my questions on Bill S-203.
Anglers & hunters must combine their resources by joining outdoor organizations that help ensure our grandkids will also enjoy an outdoor lifestyle such as ours.
Peter Wood
http://www.rippleoutdoors.com
Thanks for your comment. I read the article you suggested I look at and my position remains unchanged. I will make another post sharing why. I shared some initial comments by replying to your comment on my blog.
That being said…idiots who abuse animals SHOULD meet the the consequences of tougher laws. The article you shared mentions that both bills are common in this area. Just 2 weeks ago, (in my hometown) some punk(s) micro-waved a cat. I hope those guilty of this meet some stiff consequences. I think we all agree that these kinds of things are wrong
My issue is how the wording of C-373 (despite your re-assurances that hunting/fishing is exempt) runs open to being mis-interpreted by extreme animal rights activists. As I commented on my blog, I don’t share the assurances that hunters/farmers/anglers would have REMAINED protected under C-373. The reaction to Canada’s seal hunt, fuels my suggestion. The sources I listed in my post (granted from hunting and fishing perspectives) both indicated that the wording in C-373 could see anglers and hunters in legal trouble. This was the basis for my criminal statement.
There are other issues that arise from some of the terms C-373 wanted to enshrine.
Even though we disagree, I appreciate the time you took to post your comment and informative link.
“The latter bill (C-373) would have made it illegal to kill a deer or reel in a fish for your dinner table.”
This is an outright lie.
Why do you need to lie to defend your position? Is your stance that feeble? S-203 was opposed because it was a weak, useless bill that did nothing to address animal cruelty. And now, because of reactionary, inflammatory lobbying by hunters and farmers, it’s law.
The vast majority of Canadians are disgusted by acts of animal cruelty and want laws to protect animals from needless abuse. Bill C-373 addresses these atrocities, while at the same time protecting the rights of hunters, anglers and farmers.
For anyone interested in the truth, please download and read MP Mark Holland’s explanation and comparison of S-203 vs. C-373.
http://markholland.ca/pdfs/markhollandsep07a.pdf
It always stuns me when the animal rights people celebrate the death of someone who hunts or fishes. How can they not see the disconnect. If you value life, shouldn’t you value human life most highly of all?