I have been sitting back in shock since Sunday morning's FML.  On the one
hand, I can understand the depth of feeling against the idiotic attitude of
the CA F&G.  However, to threaten creating another Ruby Ridge/Waco type of
situation and post warnings about being well armed are exactly the types of
threats that diminish the credibility of all people interested in
legalization of ferrets.  Threats of that type enable the CAF&G to sit back
and label all ferret people as fanatics, kooks, and wackos.  It does the
ferret legalization effort no good.
 
As for the claims that the legalization effort is a war and that all wars
have casualties -- well, that is a very callous way to view one's beloved
animal companions, in my opinion.  Ferrets deliberately put into harm's way
are neither soldiers for the cause nor martyrs.  They are innocent victims
of confused thinking.  Wars are fought by soldiers who ultimately have a
choice as to whether or not they fight.  Civil disobedience is an act of
conscience by someone capable of choosing to accept the consequences of that
act.  As smart and wonderful as ferrets are, they are incapable of making
those decisions.  Remember, both Monhandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., the leading examples of civil disobedience, willingly accepted
the consequences of their actions to expose the injustices they opposed.
People choosing to use ferrets as tools or implements of their "war" against
the CA laws, or for acts of civil disobedience are acting with an arrogant
disregard for the health and welfare of another living creature.  Ferrets
can't choose for themselves whether they want to risk imprisonment or death.
Ferret guardians should do just that -- GUARD their ferrets from harm, not
use them as tools in a fight.  There is a word for people who wantonly risk
the lives of the innocent -- and it is not freedom fighter or hero, the word
is thug.  A war between two groups of thugs has the same outcome --
innocents are harmed and no one wins.  The old adage we all learned at
grandma's knee, "Two wrongs don't make a right," still holds true.
 
If Californians really and truely want ferrets to be legalized (and I know
many do) and not just another way to protest against the injustices of an
impersonal bureaucratic system, then they need to focus on cooperating with
each other to form a powerful grass roots coalition.  The bombastic rhetoric
and thuggish threats need to be dropped.  The harassing phone calls and
letters need to be stopped.  Those are negative influences.  Emphasis needs
to be made on positive action.  Californians interested in freedom for
ferrets need to actively register new voters, and each new registrant should
be given Ferret Freedom information about their legislators.  Well
documented press releases need to be regularly sent to all California media.
References need to be included in the press releases to make it easier for
the media to research and verify the facts included in the press releases.
 
The FML 10th Anniversary gathering can also help ferret legalization.
Everyone who attends the gathering at Walt Disney World should save their
receipts for all money spent and then send photocopies to the CA Department
of Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce for Annaheim (the home of
DisneyWorld) to show how much cash was lost as a direct result of
California's ban on ferrets.  The same can be done by other
non-Californian's.  Send vacation receipts not only to the Department of
Tourism, but to the various Chambers of Commerce and Tourism Committees of
California vacation spots.  Let them know politely why their community is
losing those valuable vacation dollars and let them put pressure on the
California government.
 
Use positive and rational responses to the situation in California, not
threats and inflamatory language.  And most importantly, don't place the
lives of innocents at risk.
 
Scott Giarrocco
Jopal Ferret Haven
[Posted in FML issue 2192]