Hello everyone,
 
Today was not a very good day for the Democratic process.  The domestic
ferret, a tame family pet, is legal in every country in the world and in
every state on the continent, except california.  Here, there are estimated
to be some 5000,000 ferrets belonging to some 2000,000 owners.
 
AB 363, a bill to legalize this animal in California was introduced by
Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith (R-Poway) in February of this year.  Its passed
both Assembly Committees, Water Parks and Wildlife and Appropriations, by
clear majority votes with only one vote in opposition in each committee.  On
June 5th AB 363 passed the California State Assembly by a landslide 64-8
vote.
 
From there it moved to the Senate Natural Resources Committee where it was
severely amended to address the concerns of the opposition by prohibiting
sales, importation and breeding of ferrets while the state conducts a study
funded by ferret owners. Only ferrets currently in California would be
legalized, and they would have to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated
against rabies.  AB 363 passed this Committee again with a clear majority and
a single no vote.
 
As amended, AB 363 would have done one thing, and one thing alone.  It would
have simply given the several hundred thousand ferret owners in California
the opportunity to enjoy their domesticated pets without fear of
confiscation, or fines.  It would have given them something they long for
and deserve: peace of mind.
 
But on August 25th, hopes for passage of AB 363 this year were killed by one
man, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Patrick Johnston
(D-Stockton).  Senator Johnston refused to meet with the ferret legalization
bill proponents to hear their side of the issue and refused to allow a vote
in his committee.  Members of this committee indicated support for passage
of AB 363, and it would have moved on to the Senate floor, but this will not
happen now because this bill has been effectively euthanized by Senator
Johnston.
 
We are told that Senator Johnston has aspirations to be a Congressman
someday.
 
Do you think he will listen your concerns?
 
Would you want him to represent you?
 
Californians for Ferret Legalization
[Posted in FML issue 2055]