H.R. 3663 would amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to establish additional prohibitions on shooting wildlife from aircraft.
Detailed Summary
Protect America's Wildlife Act of 2007 - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to add to airborne hunting offenses a prohibition against any person shooting or attempting to shoot any bird, fish, or other animal before 3:00 a.m. following a day on which the person has traveled by aircraft other than on a regularly scheduled commercial aircraft. Increases the fine for such offenses to not more than $50,000 (currently, $5,000).
Prohibits a state from authorizing or undertaking any action otherwise prohibited under such Act for the purpose of increasing any game population or sport hunting.
Authorizes a state to shoot predators from an aircraft to prevent a biological emergency, if: (1) the head of the state's fish and wildlife agency determines that such an emergency is imminent and there is no other means available to eliminate the emergency; (2) the shooting is conducted by an officer or employee of such agency or of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); (3) the shooting occurs only in the area where the emergency exists; and (4) the shooting removes only the minimum number of predators necessary to eliminate the emergency.
Allows the Secretary of the Interior to authorize an otherwise prohibited action to prevent the extinction of any endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 if there is no other means available to address the threat of extinction.
Authorizes citizen suits under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 9/27/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Catherine Stupar
Ethical hunting is important to me. I wonder how striking 'and' at the end of paragraphs (1) and (2) to replace it with 'or' is in the interests of protecting wildlife from unethical harassment.
Cassandra Geckle
I don't think replacing 'and' with 'or' is going to help our wildlife. I care a lot about this nation's wolves, bears, and other animals, and I believe that aeriel hunting is just plain cruel.
Terri Reeves-Arco
So let me get this straight. This bill says that if I take a half-hour charter flight at 6 am, I can't hunt anything until after 3 am the following day. This bill isn't just about outlawing aerial hunting, it is more of the same from animal rights wackos that want all sport hunting abolished. If you don't like hunting from aircraft don't do it.