For Immediate Release May 24th, 2006 Contact: Pat Wright (619) 757-7426 Ferret Lovers Launch New Initiative to Legalize Ferrets 12 Activists Dressed As Convicts to Launch New Web site -- www.LegalizeFerrets.org - and urge: Don't make criminals out of California ferret owners! At noon on Thursday, May 25, a van filled with California ferret enthusiasts dressed as convicts will descend upon the steps of the Hall of Justice at 330 W. Broadway in downtown San Diego to dramatically make a point -- that owning a domestic ferret should not be a criminal matter. Our convict-costumed ferret lovers will unfurl a 20-foot banner reading "www.LegalizeFerrets.org" and in smaller print "Don't make criminals out of California's domestic ferret owners." After repeated failures in the legislature, in front of the California Fish and Game Commission and in the courts, and after suffering a veto from a governor who co-starred with a ferret in one of his movies, California ferret owners feel there is only one avenue left to legalize ferrets in California (the only state on the U.S. mainland to ban them): a ballot initiative. Realizing that a ballot initiative is a huge undertaking, ferret legalization proponents have launched the Web site (www.legalizeferrets.org) to build support. We shall file the paperwork for an initiative after 3,000 people join the effort by agreeing to collect 100 signatures and pay $10 (or pay $100 and not gather signatures). We are calling this "The 3,000 Club" and we are currently accepting applications on the Web site. LegalizeFerrets.org is part of the San Diego chapter of Ferrets Anonymous, a grass roots organization of ferret lovers. Since forming in 1993 to help various legislative attempts to legalize domestic ferrets in California, we have witnessed Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Georgia legalize domestic ferrets, sadly leaving The Golden State behind. -30- [Moderator's note: Some people feel this is a really BAD idea. Please search back-issues of the FML so you can decide for yourself. BIG] [Posted in FML issue 5251]