Legislature Considering Banning All Lead Tackle Under 1 oz. HB 2241.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on January 23, 2012 at 1:42pm

Great news!  Due to the overwhelming support against this bill, it appears (at this time) the Committee Chair has killed HB 2241, and the prime sponsor of the bill may also be withdrawing his support.  It has been dropped from the Agenda of the House Environment Committee completely for this session! 

We are also working hard to make sure this bill never comes up again; more to follow after Thursday.

So unless something strange happens, it appears we were successful in persuading our State Legislature that HB 2241 is a bad idea!

I cannot thank each and every one of you enough for taking the time to write to your legislators, and the members of the Environment Committee! 

Sometimes it is hard to believe that we can make a difference, and that taking the time to get involved can provide the results we want, but it worked this time for sure! 

Any future correspondence with your legislators and the Environment Committee members concerning HB 2241 should be a "Thank you" for listening and supporting your concerns!

Congratulations to all!

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by D.J. LaRoche on January 23, 2012 at 3:22pm

It is certainly nice to know that we do all have a voice.  Thanks everyone for writting the letters.  I couldn't imagine having that bill passed into law. 

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on January 23, 2012 at 3:28pm

Marc -

How about using their playbook against them, and try to get someone to sponsor a bill specifically stating that lead is an acceptable product for fishing. Go on offense.

I got three responses all saying they were against the ban.

 

Permalink Reply by John Mark Minica on January 23, 2012 at 3:48pm

This is awesome! Thanks to everyone who participated in sending the message! And thanks to Marc, and everyone else who is a constant voice of reason. It is important that we continue to communicate with our elected officials, and equally important that we continue to be responsible stewards of our bodies of water. If we set the example of how to take care of the resource that we enjoy, then we will always prevail in maintaining our access to that resource. Sometimes the actions of a few will get people stirred up against us. I know that most of us who enjoy this sport are responsible, and care about maintaining our fisheries for future generations. It's great that we have people like Marc who put out the effort to spread the knowledge, but it's still up to all of us to put out the effort.

This battle was won, but the war continues.

 

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on January 23, 2012 at 4:17pm

WoW , its soo cool that our efforts made a difference in our fishing community . Goodjob all , and a BIG THANKS to  Mr Marc (Andrew) Marcantonio  ..

 

My paw~paw , use to always say

"keep your grass cut low , that way you can always see the snakes coming " 

Permalink Reply by Russell Baker on January 23, 2012 at 5:47pm

Thanks Marc for all your efforts as well as the rest of us who sent several letters, comments to our Govt officials. That letter you wrote and printed on WAFISH was one if not the best written words on the subject I have ever seen. 

As a tackle dealer and fisherman it would have been a huge detriment to not only our business but would have had a huge impact on my future fishing.

 

Thanks again for your committment and hard work on this issue.

Russ

 

 

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on January 23, 2012 at 8:44pm

Jon, the next time these loonatics even think of banning lead again, I will petition the Fisheries Commission to ban all loon watching and photography on the same 13 lakes they banned lead.  The study I quoted in my letter provides the scientific evidence that disturbing loons is a critical limiting factor to their breeding success, so the loon watchers are bigger offenders to the loons than fishermen who don't seek out the loons.  Kinda like you were saying, fight fire with fire.  I don't really want to act the same way the loonatics are acting, but if they keep this up I will feel it necessary.  The sad thing is that Washington State is south of the normal breeding range of the Common Loon, and with climate change the southern border of this range continues to contract.  At the same time predation is way up since eagles are increasing in numbers, and eagles attack loons. 

Even loons kill other loons (they don't get along with each other)!  I guess if we thought like the loonatics we could say that even if one loon is saved by killing another loon, then we should kill all the loons so they can't kill other loons?!

 

Again, thanks to all for taking time to write to their legislators and the Committee members.  Educating our legislators is important to our ability to enjoy the outdoors, and to prevent fringe elements from dictating how we live.

 

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on January 24, 2012 at 7:43am

Marc,

With all due respect why wait....they will come back. Let's quit being on defense.

Marc Marcantonio said:

Jon, the next time these loonatics even think of banning lead again, I will petition the Fisheries Commission to ban all loon watching and photography on the same 13 lakes they banned lead.  The study I quoted in my letter provides the scientific evidence that disturbing loons is a critical limiting factor to their breeding success, so the loon watchers are bigger offenders to the loons than fishermen who don't seek out the loons.  Kinda like you were saying, fight fire with fire.  I don't really want to act the same way the loonatics are acting, but if they keep this up I will feel it necessary.  The sad thing is that Washington State is south of the normal breeding range of the Common Loon, and with climate change the southern border of this range continues to contract.  At the same time predation is way up since eagles are increasing in numbers, and eagles attack loons. 

Even loons kill other loons (they don't get along with each other)!  I guess if we thought like the loonatics we could say that even if one loon is saved by killing another loon, then we should kill all the loons so they can't kill other loons?!

 

Again, thanks to all for taking time to write to their legislators and the Committee members.  Educating our legislators is important to our ability to enjoy the outdoors, and to prevent fringe elements from dictating how we live.

 

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on January 24, 2012 at 8:46am

Energy, Time, Money, and other priorities that have been delayed while fighting this lead ban. 

 

I don't disagree with your point, but I also have to feed my family.  Today I am meeting in Olympia with a bevy of legislators on several drinking water legislative issues that are important to all water utilities (I am the President of the Water Cooperative of Pierce County).  As you are pointing out, the time for defense is over, and we need to shape the dialog and our future rather than have others decide it for us, and us having to live with what they decide.  That is why I represent 19 drinking water utilities that provide the water that comes out of your faucet when you turn the handle, and 300,000 other people in Pierce County.  We formed our Co-op and hired a lobbyist to take our fight to Olympia because we are sick and tired of being reactive, and having Olympia continue to drive costs up and use drinking water as a source of revenue for Olympia.  Last year there were more than 95 legislative bills introduced that affected water, and most were adding fees and taxes.  So I am leading that fight, also, and we have crafted and submitted our own legislative bill (HB2310). 

While everyone else is out prefishing for tournaments, I am working long hours with my crew to make sure we all have quality and affordable drinking water since it is the most important ingredient to health and life.

Unfortunately the loonatics who submit this crap are mostly retired and older, and suddenly feel they need to participate in legislative matters that they ignored all their lives and feel guilty about.  They are in a hurry to do something "important" with their lives, and jump into causes that they have little experience or knowledge about.  The trouble is that they have TIME to bother legislators, and State agencies with all of their sudden need to save the world, but don't have the desire to study and learn about the issues because they figure they will not live long enough to take action.  They usually mean well, and are very passionate, but they don't consider or care about other points of view because they are in a hurry to get action.  This is the generation that grew up with civil disobedience and protests, and the ends justify the means.

The sad reality is that most anglers would rather fish, and leave the fight for the right to fish to others like us.  Every fishing group in this State tends to only look after their own interests, and is quick to throw other fishing groups under the bus when it comes to fighting opposition.  I used to be the President of the Tacoma Chapter of Trout Unlimited/Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Council in Washington.  I tried to get salmon, steelhead, trout, and bass anglers to unite and fight these type of lunatic groups. 

Unfortunately I learned that it takes a lot of money, time, energy, and a team of people to help with the workload.  Without an organized effort, the lunatics often win by demonizing their opposition, and getting us to fight between ourselves.  Our lack of organization is what defeats us on most issues, as legislators say we (anglers) can't even agree on issues amongst ourselves, so why should they support our causes?

Don't get me wrong, or read all of this to mean I am "giving up", because that just isn't in my DNA.  I didn't spend 23 years of Active Duty in the Army to give up about anything, especially our freedom. 

I just wish the fishing organizations (BASS and FLW Federations, Puget Sound Anglers, CCA, TU, Pogies, etc.) would form their own Co-op like us water companies in Pierce County so we could take the fight to the legislator just as you suggest, Jon.

Now I really have to get back to other work.

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on January 24, 2012 at 11:06am

I appreciate all your points.....

My only suggestion, is to do what the C***suckers do to the People all of the time. Find a sympathetic Rep/Senator/Lobbyist and have the language added into the drinking water bill, or have someone attach it to another bill.

Marc Marcantonio said:

Energy, Time, Money, and other priorities that have been delayed while fighting this lead ban. 

 

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Willie Parsons on January 24, 2012 at 6:12pm

Marc, I really enjoy reading your posts, you have a knack for putting your vast knowledge into words without a bunch of fluff mixed in. Thank you for standing up, I wish there were more like you on this side of these issues. I think we all owe you some waypoints or dinner or something, I recently bought $100.00 worth of quickgrops and am happy I will get to posses and use them.
Marc Marcantonio said:

Energy, Time, Money, and other priorities that have been delayed while fighting this lead ban. 

 

I don't disagree with your point, but I also have to feed my family.  Today I am meeting in Olympia with a bevy of legislators on several drinking water legislative issues that are important to all water utilities (I am the President of the Water Cooperative of Pierce County).  As you are pointing out, the time for defense is over, and we need to shape the dialog and our future rather than have others decide it for us, and us having to live with what they decide.  That is why I represent 19 drinking water utilities that provide the water that comes out of your faucet when you turn the handle, and 300,000 other people in Pierce County.  We formed our Co-op and hired a lobbyist to take our fight to Olympia because we are sick and tired of being reactive, and having Olympia continue to drive costs up and use drinking water as a source of revenue for Olympia.  Last year there were more than 95 legislative bills introduced that affected water, and most were adding fees and taxes.  So I am leading that fight, also, and we have crafted and submitted our own legislative bill (HB2310). 

While everyone else is out prefishing for tournaments, I am working long hours with my crew to make sure we all have quality and affordable drinking water since it is the most important ingredient to health and life.

Unfortunately the loonatics who submit this crap are mostly retired and older, and suddenly feel they need to participate in legislative matters that they ignored all their lives and feel guilty about.  They are in a hurry to do something "important" with their lives, and jump into causes that they have little experience or knowledge about.  The trouble is that they have TIME to bother legislators, and State agencies with all of their sudden need to save the world, but don't have the desire to study and learn about the issues because they figure they will not live long enough to take action.  They usually mean well, and are very passionate, but they don't consider or care about other points of view because they are in a hurry to get action.  This is the generation that grew up with civil disobedience and protests, and the ends justify the means.

The sad reality is that most anglers would rather fish, and leave the fight for the right to fish to others like us.  Every fishing group in this State tends to only look after their own interests, and is quick to throw other fishing groups under the bus when it comes to fighting opposition.  I used to be the President of the Tacoma Chapter of Trout Unlimited/Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Council in Washington.  I tried to get salmon, steelhead, trout, and bass anglers to unite and fight these type of lunatic groups. 

Unfortunately I learned that it takes a lot of money, time, energy, and a team of people to help with the workload.  Without an organized effort, the lunatics often win by demonizing their opposition, and getting us to fight between ourselves.  Our lack of organization is what defeats us on most issues, as legislators say we (anglers) can't even agree on issues amongst ourselves, so why should they support our causes?

Don't get me wrong, or read all of this to mean I am "giving up", because that just isn't in my DNA.  I didn't spend 23 years of Active Duty in the Army to give up about anything, especially our freedom. 

I just wish the fishing organizations (BASS and FLW Federations, Puget Sound Anglers, CCA, TU, Pogies, etc.) would form their own Co-op like us water companies in Pierce County so we could take the fight to the legislator just as you suggest, Jon.

Now I really have to get back to other work.

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on January 24, 2012 at 9:47pm

Thanks, Willie, but it is all of you who write and call your legislators that make it happen; I'm just the PITA.

 

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

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