Update (February 27, 2015): This bill failed to pass the House Agriculture, Water, & Wildlife Committee when 8 out of 10 committee members voted to “table” it. These 8 are in the pockets of agricultural interests, and this bias could not be overcome.
Update (February 12, 2015): This bill passed the Senate, and is headed to the House.
Bill Description:
This bill makes it unlawful for a person to organize, cause, sponsor, arrange, hold or participate in a coyote killing contest. A coyote killing contest is defined as an organized or sponsored competition with the objective of killing coyotes for prizes or entertainment.[teaserbreak]
Background:
Killing contests can’t be considered “sport;” they’re brutal contests that sacrifice lives for the sake of entertainment. During these shocking and vicious competitions, the person or team who has slaughtered the most animals is crowned the winner. Thousands of these events occur across the U.S. every year, resulting in the senseless deaths of tens of thousands of wild animals.
The most recent coyote killing contest in New Mexico was held in December, 2014, and resulted in the death of 39 coyotes — all for “fun.” Read more here.
Read the full text here.