Ban on Hunting Mountain Lions Ends

The decision by the members of the Fish and Game Commission to allow “sport� hunting of the mountain lion in California is one that represents neither the best interests or the feelings of the majority of the citizens of our state.

If public safety had been the concern of the commissioners, then they might have voted to allow the hunting of mountain lions in Southern California where the two recent attacks on children took place rather than in Northern California. Instead, the commissioners voted to allow the hunt only in Northern California.

If possible mountain lion overpopulation had been the concern of the commissioners, then they might have voted to have a scientific study done of the mountain lion population before deciding whether or not to allow a hunt. Instead, the commissioners used only their own estimates which are not based on any scientific facts.

If the will of the citizens of this state had been the concern of the commissioners, then they would have voted against any hunt at all, as did the members of the state Legislature last year, when they voted to extend the moratorium on mountain lion hunting.

Clearly, the concern of the commissioners was for a small, but moneyed minority that wants to use our valuable heritage of wildlife for their own selfish and destructive interests.

DAVID ADAMS

Los Angeles