Senate Bill 3525

Unfortunately I don't have the time or the resources to keep up to date on every piece of legislation that rolls through congress.  Believe me I wish I did!  However, I do try my best and once in awhile I find one that really needs to be brought to light.  One thing I always try to pay attention to is bills that are long, because its easy to hide things in the depths of the writing most people never read all the way through.  I've also always thought I had pretty good instincts so when I see something that bugs me I research it.

That being said there were a couple things that drove me to investigate this particular bill.  The bill of course, if you didn't read the title, is Senate Bill 3525 or the Sportsman's Act of 2012.  One of those things was the fact that, usually, the shorter the bill description is the farther from the truth it is.  Also, the Democratic party usually stands against anything gun or game related, while the Republican party is usually very pro gun and wanting to expand the game rights of hunters and fisherman.  So, when I see a "Sportsman's" bill being co-sponsored by all Democrats and not a single Republican (or at least not the last time I checked, go see for yourself govtrack.us) it makes me a little leary.

Again don't just take me word for it go read the bill.  But doing my own research these are a couple of the things I discovered.  First of all, it gives the government the completely unconstitutional ability to take privately owned real estate for government use if the said government deems it necessary to protect wildlife and game.  However, its not to be brought in front of anybody to see if it is actually necessary to use emanate domain on these particular parcels of land. 

I think we can all agree that our country is in some serious financial trouble.  Unless of coarse your a brainwashed Obama cronie receiving a check from the government,  that actually believes we are in better shape now then four years ago.  This being said, enough of our tax dollars are being sent down the drains for useless bureaucracies, thus leaving us in debt by spending more then we are capable of collecting in taxes (don't miss interpret that as an ad to raise taxes, IT IS NOT!).  For this reason I do not support the opening of ANY new government offices for ANY reason until some of this nonsense is straightened out.  This bill wants to open yet another one of these offices and use my tax dollars to pay their salaries.  Yet another reason for a no vote.

Thirdly, Sec. 210 gives the Secretary the ability to put regulations into practice necessary to carry out this subtitle.  Referring to Title II Subtitle A which outlines National Fish Habitat.  The biggest problem with this line in the bill is that is no oversight or checks and balances as to the Secretary's power.  So how does anyone know if what is being regulated is actually necessary? 

Again go read this bill for yourself but as for this author I will be calling my representatives and voicing my opinion for a"no" vote or at least a "no" vote in its current form.  There are a number of worthwhile things in this bill, but without reformation the bad drastically outweighs the good.