Iowa: Traditional Ammunition Protections Move Forward in Des Moines

Yesterday, the state House Natural Resources Committee passed House Joint Resolution 2001 by a 17 to 4 vote.  HJR 2001, which is the House companion of Senate Joint Resolution 2001, is now headed to the House floor for consideration.  SJR 2001 and HJR 2001 would rescind the Iowa Natural Resources Commission’s unjustified and dangerous regulation banning the use of traditional ammunition for dove hunting.  SJR 2001, which has passed in the state Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee, is currently awaiting floor action in the state Senate.

Here are three reasons why the use of traditional ammunition should NOT be banned:

• No scientific studies regarding traditional ammunition have been shown to have any population-level impacts on doves or other species. In fact, doves are the most popular and abundant game bird hunted in America with population levels at all-time highs.
• The price of non-traditional ammunition with similar performance characteristics is significantly higher and will keep many hunters from taking part in the dove season, especially in these dire economic times.
• Last year, the seven appointed members of the state Natural Resources Commission (NRC) flagrantly usurped the authority of the state legislature by imposing a traditional (lead) ban for dove hunting. State legislators had an extensive floor debate on the same traditional ammunition ban and overwhelmingly rejected it during the passage of the dove bill.
• No state in the country – even those where hunting is far less of the state’s heritage – has ever imposed a ban on the use of traditional ammunition.

At this time, please contact your state Representative and state Senator and urge them to vote for HJR 2001 and SJR 2001 on the floor of their respective bodies.  This legislation is crucial to protect the use of traditional ammunition and stop anti-hunting extremists from attacking a means of hunting shown to have no population-level impacts on wildlife.

For more information about the use of traditional (lead) ammunition, please click here