John Edwards for President-Edwards Unveils "Hunting And Fishing Bill Of Rights And Responsibilities"

Edwards Unveils "Hunting And Fishing Bill Of Rights And Responsibilities"

Oct 24, 2007 10:49 AM

Announces Iowa Sportsmen and Sportswomen for Edwards Committee

Glenwood, Iowa – Today, as Senator John Edwards kicks off a four-day tour focused on supporting Iowa families and Iowa values, he unveiled a "Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities" to protect Iowa's hunting and fishing tradition and to ensure that we protect our country's natural resources for future generations.

"Growing up in small, rural towns, I learned early that America has been blessed with a wealth of natural resources," said Edwards. "Just as it is our right to enjoy America's forests, mountains, fields and streams, it is also our responsibility to protect them for generations to come. But the Bush Administration has waged war on the environment, putting corporate interests ahead of our natural heritage at every turn. It's time to reverse this destruction and renew our commitment to protecting our natural treasures."

The Edwards campaign also announced Iowa Sportsmen and Sportswomen for Edwards – comprised of more than 350 Iowans who share Edwards' commitment to protecting and nourishing the important traditions of hunting and fishing.

Edwards is committed to listening to the concerns and standing up for the values of regular, hard-working Iowa families from across the state. During this trip, Edwards will reach a major milestone in his campaign: having visited and answered questions from Iowans in all 99 Iowa counties.

Edwards grew up in small, rural towns where he spent time outdoors, hunted, fished and learned to appreciate our nation's natural resources. He believes all Americans have a right to enjoy these resources and share a responsibility to protect them. His "Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities" outlines five principles for access to public lands, gun rights, conservation, and safe, healthy fishing.

Improve Access to Public and Recreational Lands. Because too often Americans are unable to enjoy America's natural places and wildlife, Edwards will support "Open Fields" programs that encourage private landowners to let people hunt and fish on their land. He also supports setting up regional Public Access Councils to give local sportspeople a voice in land management and, instead of opening up backcountry for logging and drilling the way President Bush has done, Edwards will work to preserve our roadless backcountry.

Protect the Tradition of Responsible Gun Ownership. Edwards hunted when he was young and grew up in rural areas where owning a gun was part of a way of life. He respects that way of life and believes that we can do two things at once: protect gun rights and promote gun safety.

Preserve Access to Clean, Healthy Water for Fishing. Edwards will restore the Clean Water Act's authority over all our nation's waters and fight mercury pollution in our fish by requiring power plants to reduce their emissions.

Secure our Natural Heritage for Future Generations. Edwards will get the Bureau of Land Management back in the business of protecting our public land instead of working for the oil and gas industry. He will re-invest in the National Park system and work to protect our habitats from invasive species that are skyrocketing in part because of foreign imports that the current administration isn't willing to regulate.

Expect Citizens to Share Responsibility for Stewardship. Edwards will create new ways for regular Americans to take responsibility for conserving America's natural treasures. He will help private landowners protect their land through the Conservation Reserve Program and will create an Outdoor Career Corps to train young people for jobs in conservation or park rangers. Finally, when national parks need to cull their game species because of over-population, Edwards supports saving taxpayers millions by having local hunters, instead of paid sharpshooters, do the job.

To read more about Edwards' "Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities," please see the fact sheet below.

Iowa Sportsmen and Sportswomen for Edwards

Billy Kerns, Murray
Donna Clothier, Harlan
Dr. Bill Heffron, Centerville
Jodi Pentico, Belmond
Stan Vanderloo, Merrill
Larry Baldosier, Lockridge
Daniel Heckart, Cedar Rapids
Ken Squires, Shell Rock
Harvey Klevar, Decorah
Mark Shepherd, Waukee
Denise Hootman, Des Moines
Curtis Spence, Vinton
Mary Laird, Creston
Donald Ryan, Independence
Kathryn Klein, Cedar Rapids
John Leichty, Ottumwa
Traci Zieser, Cedar Rapids
Tom Fine, Braddyville
David Wiley, Clarence
Martin Hepker, Urbana
Vernon Connett, Woodburn
Danny Smith, Hartford
Lisa Metcalf, Spirit Lake
Jami Johnson, Sergeant Bluff
Loren Myers, Macksburg
Stanley Boggs, Jewell
Pamela Holtz, Marion
Grace Carmichael, Perry
Leland Carmichael, Villisca
Dave Crocker, Davenport
Merlin Moore, Anamosa
Charles Whitacre, Glenwood
Harlan Schuck, Parkersburg
Ned Stout, Mitchellville
Robert Bailey, Washington
Randall Manning, Maquoketa
Jack Penny, Newton
Donald Wells, Britt
Debra Morgheim, Grand River
Julie McKillip, West Liberty
Gib Butler Jr., Sheldon
Beverly McNealy, Osage
Russell Bridgman, Bloomfield
Harold Buchheit, Dubuque
Leonard Peterson, Belmond
Jeraine Hofer, Fort Madison
Jeff Smith, Council Bluffs
Don Morgheim, Grand River
Elmer Schwery, Harlan
Burl Carroll, Lake View
Monte Hawkins, Manly
Daniel Lane, Vinton
Joe Enderlin, Spencer
Douglas Shutts, Grinnell
Megan Pickles, Zearing
Willis Hamilton, Storm Lake
Ed Black, Council Bluffs
Helen Barrett, Des Moines
Marlin Allchin, Muscatine
Tony Hodgson, Colfax
Hiram Hardy, Davenport
Dennis Seaton, Dubuque
Corey Boyles, Cedar Rapids
Dean Flora, Baxter
Tom Box, Eldon
Don Downing, Fontanelle
Jerry Ridenour, Marion
Carl Boas, Bloomfield
Larry Lemon, Orient
Clair Martin, Ottumwa
Harold Bailey, Charles City
Meg Nicholas, Lime Springs
Alan Schwickerath, Charles City
Juanita Hamilton, Storm Lake
Denise Hocraffer, Clarion
James Steingrabe, Des Moines
Richard Heims, Anamosa
William Ongie, Cedar Rapids
Judith Thomas, Anamosa
Sheryl McVay, Urbana
Julie Connolly, Dallas Center
Keating Hissem, Montrose
Maury Muhm, Spirit Lake
Deanna Hendrickson, Central City
Richard Myers, Mingo
Floy Peterson, Belmond
Robert E. McClaran, Birmingham
Debra Heiken, Wyoming
Dale Gates, New Hampton
Joe D. Coulter, Iowa City
Carol Jasperson, Tipton
John Blakeney, Washington
Danny McDaniel, Urbana
Connie Hvitved, Cresco
Calvin Huffman, Creston
Nicholas Zabel, Humboldt
Lawrence Ralfs, Davenport
Ruth Huffman, New Hampton
Laurence Breuklander, Pella
Melvin Berryhill, Milford
Robert McCully, Redding
Richard Schnoebelen, New Hampton
Daniel Bubon, Solon
Jerome Jefferies, Oskaloosa
John Lipcamon, Cedar Rapids
Preston Brown, Newton
Forrest Fromm, Bellevue
John Schinker, Atlantic
Dennis Dvorak, Cedar Rapids
Troy Greiner, Spirit Lake
Steven Bain, Ottumwa
Janine Roling, Anamosa
Ruthanne Burke, Fredericksburg
Craig Streeter, Vinton
Raymond Harden, Perry
Edwin Reeg, Dubuque
Dale Green, Estherville
Kenneth Nelson, Newton
James Appleby, De Witt
Karen Illingworth, Newton
Robert Feiereisen, Cedar Rapids
James Keith, Newton
Rod Hotek, Birmingham
Raymond Free, Des Moines
William Gerischer, Maquoketa
Dennis Keithley, Council Bluffs
Brenda Reilley, Des Moines
Christopher Neal, Lineville
Mark Gronemeyer, Cedar Rapids
Garold Nelson, Grinnell
David Youngwirth, Wesley
Debra Cluff, Ottumwa
Colin McCullough, Rockwell City
Daniel Hronec, Ottumwa
Mark Sturgeon, Le Mars
Donald Russell, Baxter
Bill O'Hearn, Spencer
Sandy Smith, Council Bluffs
Edwin Wilson, Des Moines
Dean Hemesath, Cedar Rapids
Cedar County Deputy Sheriff Rodney Ohrt, Stanwood
Diane Nelson, Grinnell
Kristine Kessell, Cedar Rapids
Mike Wade, Manchester
Ronald Hunt, Cedar Rapids
Elvin Jay, Moulton
Kristine McSpadden, Cedar Rapids
Loren Seitz, Vinton
Gary Ficken, Cedar Rapids
Kenneth Carmichael, Perry
Michael Jewell, Washington
Michael McCully, Clarksville
Michelle McKinney, Colfax
Linda Hosek, Clutier
Richard Bell, Mount Pleasant
Dale Hall, Fort Madison
Johnnie Crain, Muscatine
Deborah Knuth, Pleasant Valley
Roger Higley, Dubuque
Paul Coffman, Council Bluffs
William Herrig, Dubuque
Jeffrey Pentico, Belmond
Jane Brandt, Altoona
Michael Sell, Newton
Wayne Caltrider, Menlo
Debra Snyder, Sumner
Karen Hardtke, Sherrill
Timothy Johnson, Newton
Ralph Hopkins, Shenandoah
Michael Snyder, Sumner
Kenneth Sjogren, Otho
Mary Shutts, Grinnell
Victor Thomsen, Dow City
Alex Kazos, Storm Lake
Dennis Petersen, Charles City
Scott Rich, Cedar Rapids
Patrick Hickson, Dubuque
Greg Eaton, Cherokee
Ted Witthoft, Thurman
Linda Phillips, Selma
Donald Mumm, Independence
Leo Hallowell, Burlington
Ned Bjornstad, Okoboji
Richard Whisler, Indianola
Raymond Short, Anamosa
Mark Pape, Maquoketa
James Smith, Osceola
Raymond Fairchild, Shellsburg
Doug Meyer, Clarence
Michael Johnson, Cedar Rapids
Laurie Eaton, Cherokee
Dave Tancreti, Des Moines
Frank Rose, Creston
Scott Dunsbergen, Kellogg
Catherine Davis, Newton
Jim Leichty, Ottumwa
Dan Bynum, Eldridge
Tracy St. Clair, Farmington
Dan Rhoades, Cedar Falls
Jordan Pettus, Solon
Scott Courtney, Iowa City
Michael Baxter, Cedar Rapids
Edwin Harl, Kellogg
Joel Miller, Solon
Willie Adams, Bedford
Paul Nagel, Castana
Thomas Gallagher, Cedar Rapids
Steve Westhoff, Dubuque
Steven Schaffer, Algona
Russell Rudd, Keokuk
Rebel Andrew, Vinton
Richard Houghtaling, Leon
Ronald Munshower, Charles City
Jeff McKinney, Tipton
Kirk Shaw, Cedar Falls
Dorothea Kruger, Parkersburg
Warren Callahan, Cascade
Michael Zabel, Humboldt
Margaret Stout, Mitchellville
Carl Lemke, Adair
Joanne Anderson, Newton
Philip Endress, Centerville
Perry Thompson, Newton
Lloyd Nitzschke, Rock Rapids
Mary Penny, Newton
Bradley Fischels, Denver
Suzan Riley, Carroll
Ross Eveland, New Sharon
Gaylan Bell, Diagonal
Lloyd Demoss, Arcadia
Douglas Stuart, Plainfield
Norman Sandberg, Le Claire
Russell McNamara, Oelwein
Charles Jasperson, Tipton
James Huffman, New Hampton
Roger Monson, Lake Mills
Roberta Pfaff, Ottumwa
Bob Miller, Rock Valley
Bruce Williams, Cedar Rapids
Jim Ralston, Delmar
Donald Johnson, Cedar Rapids
Diane Thomas, Oskaloosa
Randy Striegel, Cedar Rapids
Orren Knoffloch, Storm Lake
Bob Rausch, Cedar Falls
Ralph Arndt, Sioux City
Ronald Schenck, Clarinda
James Terry, Cincinnati
Lloyd Schriever, Ackley
John Nelson, Estherville
Joan Herrig, Dubuque
Joseph Canny, Ottumwa
Allan Thompson, Kensett
Robert Oberbroeckling, Waterloo
Ray Murray, Des Moines
Julia Leichty, Ottumwa
Bruce Gipple, Waverly
Thomas Hart, Cedar Rapids
Timothy Leonard, Fort Dodge
Michael Cupples, Newton
James Verhoeven, Ireton
Brian Hendrickson, Central City
David Kempker, New London
Dave Wahlert, Anita
Joyce Carter, Davenport
Rick Hopkins, Unionville
Cedric Robinson, Altoona
Richard Strauss, Cedar Rapids
Raymond Hammer, Forest City
Everett Birch, Marengo
Michael Chance, Des Moines
Charles Landuyt, Solon
Cindy Janssen, Anamosa
Susan Free, Des Moines
Stanley Priebe, Brandon
James Ellis, Weldon
Jackie Champion, Walnut
Robert Buchmiller, Iowa City
Jamie Whitmer, Holstein
Richard Horak, Swisher
Donald McFarland, Des Moines
Linda Brown, Newton
Mark Olson, Cedar Rapids
Margaret Griffiths, Ottumwa
Jeff Bush, Lenox
Roxanne Krieps, Algona
Ryan Castle, Muscatine
Deanna Thorn, Des Moines
Evelyn Fowler, Melrose
Thomas Sincox, Ottumwa
Gerald Christensen, Cedar Rapids
Gil Nelson, Sioux City
Kevin Bailey, Prairie City
Sharon McLaughlin, Swisher
Monte Wilson, Bloomfield
Carol Sandberg, Le Claire
Cliff Ferguson, Hamburg
Larry Trende, Cresco
Leonard Meckler, Des Moines
Carey Kirk, Cedar Falls
Martin Anderson, Kellogg
Cory Ernst, Altoona
Joe Leggio, Council Bluffs
Paul Luloff, Burlington
Keyron Schumacher, Perry
George Williams, Fairfield
Michael Ivins, Cedar Rapids
Benny McCaulley, Des Moines
Steve Adams, Red Oak
Nicklaus Ulrich, Cedar Rapids
John Tremain, Conrad
Kenneth Waldorf, Clinton
Daryn Hamilton, Fairfield
Mel Clothier, Harlan
James Arnold, Ottumwa
Shellie McDuffey-Snyder, Murray
Leroy Hammes, Delta
Troy Donner, Creston
Richard McGrath, Pella
Lana Bednarowicz, Cedar Rapids
Bill Barrett, Des Moines
Francis Conner, Lisbon
Curtis McDonough, Eddyville
Geraldine Anderson, Ottumwa
David Johnson, Richland
Paul McGill, Rock Valley
Steve Case, Sioux City
Becky Houghtaling, Leon
Joan Schultz, Fredericksburg
Duane Hosek, Clutier
Shawn Larson, Des Moines
Ralph McGuire, Algona
Les Hicks, Spencer
Julia Kerns, Murray
Jerry Kelley, Newton
Darien Sloat, Fairfield
Steve Quattlebaum, Spencer
Joseph Golden, Washington
Kenmer Splinter, Dubuque
Brenda Peshel, Adel
Clement Donlan, Lime Springs
Doug Wolkow, Missouri Valley
David Laird, Creston
Brian Champion, Walnut
Marta Bach, Cedar Rapids
Nancy Vincent, Ely
Bob Bell, Saint Charles
Philip McNaught, Davenport
Patrick Peakin, Colo
Joan Fall, Ottumwa
Robert White, Oskaloosa
Richard Jones, Ottumwa
Mayor Marty Jahn, Charlotte
Eileen Melohn, Clarksville
Gary Schuch, Central City
Michael Connolly, Dallas Center
Larry Nicolaisen, Cherokee
Lawrence Taylor, Anamosa
Lavaughn Potts, Cedar Rapids
John Larsen, Kingsley
Dennis Ryan, Melrose
Robert Wiersma, Orange City
Carl Renstrom, Wever
Chistopher Salinas, Jesup
Thomas Delong, Dunkerton

Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

"Growing up in small, rural towns, I learned early that America has been blessed with a wealth of natural resources. Just as it is our right to enjoy America's forests, mountains, fields and streams, it is also our responsibility to protect them for generations to come." -- John Edwards

Nearly half of American adults fish, hunt or participate in outdoors recreation relating to fish and wildlife each year. We need to ensure opportunities for all Americans to enjoy the country's natural resources and protect these resources for future generations. Today, John Edwards announced his Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, outlining five principles for access to public lands, gun rights, conservation, and safe, healthy fishing. [USFWS, 2007]

Improve Access to Public and Recreational Lands

Too often, Americans are unable to enjoy America's natural places and wildlife. Access issues – including rapid private development and poor trail maintenance – create barriers for cyclists, runners, hunters, fishers and others who depend on access to recreational land and water. Edwards will help Americans get outdoors.

Provide more paths into the wilderness: Edwards will increase support for state "Open Fields" programs encouraging rural landowners -- including farmers and ranchers -- to open their private lands to hunters, fishers and nature enthusiasts. Edwards will also create more trails and access points into the wilderness by converting defunct industrial uses, like the Rails to Trails program does for hiking and snowmobiling. [CSF, 2006; RTTC, 2007]
Form partnerships to provide local input on public access issues: Edwards will give local conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts a voice in federal public lands policymaking through new regional public access councils. The councils will advise land agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park and Forest Services, based upon the perspectives of hikers, hunters, fresh and saltwater fishers, conservationists, scientists and others.
Preserve the roadless backcountry: Undeveloped wilderness provides the best wildlife habitat and excursion areas for fishers and hikers. In 2004, George Bush offered up 60 million of America's last wild lands to corporate interests by repealing the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Edwards will reinstate the rule permanently to keep the backcountry wild, rather than building roads for logging, drilling and development. [Outdoor Industry Foundation, 2006]

Protect the Tradition of Responsible Gun Ownership

Edwards hunted when he was young and grew up in rural areas where owning a gun was part of a way of life. He respects that way of life and the individual right to own firearms guaranteed by the Second Amendment. He believes that law-abiding citizens should be able to own firearms to protect themselves and their families, enjoy sport shooting and take part in the time-honored tradition of hunting. At the same time, we've all seen the terrible consequences when guns fall into the hands of criminals. We can do two things at once: protect gun rights and promote gun safety.

Preserve Access to Clean, Healthy Water for Fishing

Iowa is home to 148 species of fish, but its longstanding tradition of angling is threatened by pollution. Under President Bush, Clean Water Act enforcement has fallen while more than 300,000 miles of rivers and shoreline and 5 million acres of lakes are too contaminated for recreational use. Edwards will protect the tradition of fishing by protecting America's waterways. [Iowa DNR, 2007; NRDC, 2004]

Clean up America's lakes, streams and oceans: Edwards will affirm the application of the Clean Water Act to all the nation's waters, reversing President Bush's drive to limit its authority, and recommit to the goal of making all U.S. waters fishable and swimmable. He will ban new or expanded concentrated animal feeding operations to reduce agricultural waste spills, which have contributed to 220 fish kills from human sources in Iowa since 1995. [Iowa DNR, 2007]
Protect fish and humans from toxic mercury: There are official mercury advisories on the fish from a third of the nation's lakes and wetlands, including the largemouth bass in Iowa's Black Pit and Nine Eagles Lake. The Bush Administration has suppressed evidence of mercury's effects, exempted the worst polluters from regulations and offered business-friendly trading schemes that fail to combat local "hot spots" of pollution. Edwards will require mandatory reductions of mercury pollution by 90 percent – a figure set by science, not industry lobbying – with national monitoring. [Iowa DNR, 2007; CSM, 1/24/07]
Support inland fisheries: Edwards will reinstitute science as the guiding factor in managing inland fishery resources—which has been absent in the Bush administration. He will end the uncertainty and delays that have been caused by improper implementation of conservation plans, directing federal agencies to reach swift resolution while balancing the interests of conservationists, sportsmen and industry.
Support recreational saltwater fishers: Edwards will work with fishers and conservation groups to restore depleted fishery stocks, balancing the needs of commercial and recreational fisheries. He will explore innovative approaches to setting catch shares and collect better data. Finally, he will fund recreational fishing advocates within the national Marine Fisheries Service.

Secure our Natural Heritage for Future Generations

At every opportunity, George Bush has put narrow corporate interests ahead of regular families, causing new threats to our nation's great wildlife habitats. Edwards believes that protecting our natural heritage for future generations to enjoy is among our highest duties.

Protect resources for federal land conservation: Edwards will protect much-needed resources for our national park, forest and wildlife refuge systems and invest in the improvements the National Park Service deserves approaching its 100th He will also write the National Landscape Conservation System into law to permanently protect 26 million acres of nationally significant scenic areas. [NPCA, 2007; Wilderness Society, 2007]
Restore balance to federal land management: The Bush Bureau of Land Management has prioritized faster processing of oil and gas drilling applications over the needs of citizens and long-term wilderness conservation. John Edwards will restore a balanced approach to land management. His administration will always include the regional sporting and naturalist communities in drafting land use plans and will grant permits only after considering potential damage to wildlife habitat, hunting, fishing and outdoor activities. [BLM, 2005]
Protect America from invasive species: Invasive plants, insects and animals are increasing, partly due to poorly regulated imports. Invasive species – such as buckthorn, Eurasian watermilfoil and corn borer in Iowa – cause more than $120 billion in damage annually. Edwards will strengthen the Agriculture Department's ability to protect domestic species from potentially dangerous plant and animal species, including from imports, and provide more resources for interstate inspections. [NPCA, 2007; TNC, 2007]

Expect Citizens to Share Responsibility for Stewardship

The government alone cannot adequately care for the hundreds of millions acres of state and federal lands and waters, much less the millions more acres of natural resources – including 75 percent of the nation's wetlands – that are under private ownership. Edwards will create new ways for regular Americans to take responsibility for conserving America's natural treasures. [EPA, 2007]

Help private landowners with conservation: Edwards will support and expand successful conservation partnerships, including the Agriculture Department's Conservation Reserve Program, to help landowners adopt conservation methods and restore their wetlands, forests and farm lands.
Create an Outdoor Career Corps: Edwards will address understaffing at conservation agencies in part by expanding the natural resources career programs at 12 rural Job Corps centers nationwide. The programs will connect rural youth to jobs and skills in natural resources management, such as surveying land, preventing and fighting wildfires, and managing species.
Involve sportspeople in wildlife management: To create new opportunities for hunters and save taxpayer dollars, Edwards will encourage the National Park Service's wildlife experts to consider working with qualified local sportsmen, rather than paid sharpshooters, to manage overpopulated herds in national parks.
Study the impacts of private wildlife cultivation: The increase in fish and game farms, high-fence hunting operations, and sport cultivation of non-native species has raised concerns across the country. Edwards will appoint regional commissions made up of sportspeople, conservationists, scientists and business owners to quantify the economic benefits and study ways to control the impact on native species.