Posted on 02/28/2012 10:53:32 PM PST by SmithL
California Fish and Game Commission President Daniel Richards said Tuesday that there is "zero chance" he will resign over a photograph showing him grinning as he holds up the body of a mountain lion he shot, killed and ate in Idaho recently.
In a letter addressed to Assemblyman Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, one of dozens of public officials who called for Richards' resignation in recent days, Richards blasted lawmakers and others for their criticism of his hunting expedition and mocked their condemnation of the kill.
Richards wrote that he did eat a cougar for dinner, did not use a high-powered rifle and said he has "consistently supported" conservation efforts as a commissioner when they were backed by scientific evidence. He compared his actions to a California official gambling in Nevada.
While it's legal to kill the big cats in Idaho, California has banned the hunting of mountain lions since 1972, and voters have twice renewed that restriction. After the photo surfaced online this week, at least 40 lawmakers and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for his resignation.
Newsom, in a letter, said the "actions call into question whether you can live up to the calling of your office," and "do not reflect the values of the people of California."
Richards was unapologetic.
"Do you really think a California commissioner is actually obligated to follow California laws across these United States? Really?" Richards wrote on Fish and Game letterhead in a two-page correspondence he also sent to the entire Legislature, the governor, the California secretary of Natural Resources, and members of the Fish and Game Commission.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Why does he say he didn’t use a high powered rifle and why does that even matter? I would have used my Marlin 1895ss and bragged about it, but the girly men are prevelant right now I see.
Given Newsome’s personal life, I think he would shut up about what others do.
Nice looking cougar!
He should shoot and eat the cat that mauled Roy of Seigfried and Roy.
Shrug. My guess is that he used hounds[Black and Tan] and shot it out of a tree. Not my cup of tea.
No mention of Richards’ political affiliation. At least I didn’t notice one.
So the a hole thinks he is above the law, put his a** in jail.
Guess what they said he did not have a tag to kill the cat.
Where is the claim of illegality?
I don’t know how common they are out there, but the Florida panther subspecies is almost extinct.
I believed the poster in #9, you are free to call him whatever gives you a thrill.
Here is the letter from Newsom making clear that it was legal.
Mr. Daniel W. Richards
President, California Fish and Game Commission
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1320
Sacramento, CA 95814
President Richards,
Thank you for more than 4 years of service to the people of California as a member of the California Fish and Game Commission. Unfortunately, recent events make it clear that you cannot continue in any capacity on the Commission. (California wildlife official in hot water over mountain lion hunt, San Jose Mercury News, February 17, 2012) I must confess to a personal interest in this issue above those of my current office. As you may know, my father, Judge William Newsom is a long-time mountain lion protection advocate and past president of the Mountain Lion Preservation Foundation. Additionally, I have personally worked for the protection of these majestic animals and their habitat.
While not in California at the time, your actions call into question whether you can live up to the calling of your office. Since 1870 the Commission has worked to manage the wildlife resources of our state. As president of the commission, I am sure you understand that merely complying with the conservation laws of California is not the standard by which the Commission or its members are measured. As is stated on the Commission’s website, your actions should be in the “best interest of the resource and truly reflect(s) the wishes and needs of the people.”
I do appreciate that you did nothing illegal in Idaho, but it is clear that your actions do not reflect the values of the people of California. In 1972, Governor Ronald Reagan signed legislation banning the sport hunting of mountain lions in California for 5 years. That ban was twice renewed before the voters of California passed Proposition 117 in June 1990.
I’m sure I needn’t remind you of the many challenges facing California and the important work ahead for the Commission. Your continued presence on the Commission is a distraction from those important issues.
As such, I am prevailing on your sense of civic service to respectfully request you resign, effective immediately, so we can move on to the pressing issues facing our great state.
Sincerely,
Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom
A cat like that has a range of about 120 square miles. As fat as it is someone has been baiting for the commissioner. His term in office is soon up if he is not fired. He will never get reapproved.
"So the a hole thinks he is above the law, put his a** in jail."
I don’t have a problem with the guy here. He took the cat in Idaho, where the hunting of cougars is perfectly legal. That his home state bans it has no bearing, or should have no bearing, whatsoever on what the guy legally did in another state.
What this is about is getting him off the commission so that the power shifts entirely from hunting to environmentalism.
And this is your org.whodat on drugs...
What law did he break?
I often hike the Los Gatos trail here in the SF Bay Area. All over, there are signs warning against mountain lions. If one of the cuddly things one day makes a dinner of me or someone else, will it have to answer to Gavin Newsom, et al?
I have known a lot of people from here (San Diego) going to Idaho. It is a good state and they love it.
And yet, try taking a fish without a license in Californa, and watch this guy and his ilk string you up from the nearest tree.
I hope they seriously screw this guy over. What goes around, comes around butt-wipe.
“...And yet, try taking a fish without a license in Californa, and watch this guy and his ilk string you up from the nearest tree.
I hope they seriously screw this guy over. What goes around, comes around butt-wipe...”
If you fish without a proper license, *YOU* deserve to be “screwed over”...Buttwipe!
Well then, that was one of the stupidest comments I’ve read today. But the day is young, I still have time to read more of your comments. LOL
No, it’s respectable and legal to be eaten by a mtn lion, just don’t eat one
“Ate?”
Yeh, they taste like tuna.
Sure, he was in a different state when he killed one ~ and ate it ~ and it was all legal ~ but what is he doing protecting the darned things back in CA? Certainly they are as dangerous there as they are in Idaho
What I wonder is if he brought back trophies. That'd be paws, a head, maybe a tail. Where are they? Or, did he save the hide for preservation as a rug, and just what are the California laws on ownership of such materials?
If Californians think these critters are in some manner endangered and have protected them, it follows to reason that they have created some evidentiary standards ~ one of which would be possession of hide, skeleton, etc. ~ maybe even gallstones!
If he took trophies it would be reasonable to ask where he put them ~ maybe in the Fish and Game Commission's meeting room?
Do you have a reading problem, the poster in 9 said he had no tag I believed him. Now take it up with him, if you want to start some petty little fight.
Why does he say he didn’t use a high powered rifle....Hell, I’d be proud of jumping out of a tree and wrasslin’ him to death with a garrote, too. Why rain on his parade?
Ate?..I found that part of the story...rather distasteful.
Frankly, I don’t consider cats edible. Ever watch them lick their butts?
So if I were to kill an elk legally in Wyoming, I should resign my political office here in Wisconsin where it is ILLEGAL to kill an elk? Absurd!
Makes me wonder what the hell has happened to this country that I used to know? Not only absurd but, INSANE!
His job.......He doesn't make the law, his job is to enforce it. In fact, considering the state he works in, I think he has a very healthy attitude towards hunting.....
It’s his eating habits that peg him as strange.
No, it's not polite to stare......
Why not read the entire thread, nut////
That's the primary way they bear hunt in northern Michigan.....when I was a kid, my uncles in northern michigan were hardcore bear hunters and had some of the best dogs around.
I could say the same thing about folks who enjoy pickled beets or lima beans.......LOL!
“Frankly, I don’t consider cats edible. Ever watch them lick their butts?”
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Guess you’ve never worked on or even visited a cattle ranch. Not trying to be mean, just saying that ALL breeds of cattle are notorious butt-lickers.
Cattle are bigger ~ longer distance to travel.
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