OTHER 2021 LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS - The following bills have not moved forward in the 2021 Legislative session

​

HB-5632 AN ACT PROHIBITING THE SALE AND TRADE OF IVORY AND RHINOCEROS HORN. There are only about 350,000 elephants left alive and one is killed every 15 minutes for its ivory. Rhinos are also greatly reduced in numbers with total extirpation of certain subspecies. Ivory and rhino horns are coveted for many reasons, including as “trophies.” The suffering caused to these animals when killed is unspeakably cruel. Unless we close markets, we continue to incentivize this practice. 

SB-66 AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES, CARNIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS. While this bill is in the formative stages, we recommend amending it to match more closely with last year’s proposed SB-413 where, instead of exhibitions, the focus was also on traveling animal acts. Lions, tigers, elephants and other species are often chained up and jolted with electricity during training and they live in stressful, substandard conditions. Wild animals in such acts also pose public safety risks. Rampaging elephants have bolted out of circuses, and big cats and primates have injured people. There are many animal-free shows that provide humane alternatives, while also providing jobs for talented performers. Many countries, states and localities have or are in the process of taking action. In December 2018, New Jersey became the first state to pass a ban, followed by Hawaii. 

​

HB-5177 AN ACT CONCERNING THE HARVESTING OF HORSESHOE CRABS DURING A FULL MOON. Horseshoe crabs are sharply decreasing in number, despite being protected in the state of New Jersey, Delaware and South Carolina. Nearly a million crabs a year are harvested for bait in the United States, however invasive crabs, Carcinus maenas, are readily available to be used as substitute bait. Horseshoe crabs are also critical to the survival of migratory birds, as well as turtles and sharks. Current proposed legislation calls for halting the harvesting of horseshoe crabs during a full moon. While grateful for its introduction, we hope for expanding the moratorium to include the entire mating season, from May to June, to help horseshoe crabs populations recover. 

HB-5528 AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF LEGHOLD AND BODY-CRUSHING TRAPS. Animals caught in these inhumane devices suffer severe physical injury, trauma, thirst, hypothermia, drowning and predation. Household pets and the public are also put at risk by their use. These traps are banned or restricted in 8 states and 85 countries. Among trappers who oppose this ban, the most common reason given is that there is already too much regulation, or that a ban on these inhumane mechanisms that will lead to a widespread ban on all trapping. Others have expressed that these cruel devices should remain legal simply because they are less expensive than the alternatives, or because the alternatives are less effective against large predators. However, statistics show that 79% of animals trapped last year were not actually predators. In addition to non-lethal alternatives, the proposed legislation allows for wildlife management and public safety via trained duly authorized representatives of government and municipal agencies. It’s time to outlaw these cruel and barbaric instruments of torture. 

​

Sierra Club CT opposes any bear hunting bills. Rather, efforts towards public education for peaceful coexistence is key. Black bears are a crucial part of Connecticut’s biodiversity. Deforestation in the 1800s dramatically decreased the number of bears, and they have only recently recovered. Hunting does not solve bear-human conflict issues, education does. In 2014, Yosemite National Park reported a 92% decrease in human/bear conflicts due to their public education programs. Education works!

​​