Legislator seeks to abolish TWRA

[Tim Nunan]

I know we have some problems with the TWRA but is this what we wanted?
From the April issue of the Tennessee Valley Outdoors (sorry no link):


“Tennessee sportsmen are being urged to contact their state legislators for help in defeating a bill that would abolish TWRA.

“Representative Sherry Jones (D-Nashville) has been working to recruit co-sponsors for her HB2856 that would abolish TWRA, move it underneath the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and place all of sportsmen’s dollars in the state general fund.

“HB2856 also will result in TWRA losing millions in federal funds that come as a result of Pittman-Robertson and Wallop-Breaux federal laws.

“It would simply destroy the TWRA and system of wildlife management that has led to the recovery of weld turkey, deer, waterfowl and many other species over the past 60 years, say opponents of the bill.

“The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is strongly opposed to this legislation and asks that you call and or e-email your elected officials to ask them to request that Rep. Jones withdraw the bill.

“This bill, while ill-conceived in concept , is poorly written- as evidenced by Section 7 where it refers to the state Department of Education-for what reason ,we have no idea, said TWF Executive Director Michael Butler.

“Even more troublesome is that Rep. Jones has recruited the following co-sponsors: Representatives Jones, Borchert, Tidwell, Pinion, Shepard, Litz, Ykley, West, Lundberg, Pruitt, Niceley, Brooks H, Johnson C, Sontany and Coleman.

“Several of these co-sponsors have led the charge against TWRA in support of commercial fishermen (80-100 individuals) over the interests of sports fishermen (800,000 individuals).

“In contrast some of there elected officials are just unaware as to what they have signed onto-possibly thinking that it might prove helpful during an election year.

“Help TWF send a strong message to these and all the other elected representatives tin the State House that they need to leave our wildlife agency alone, unless we as sportsmen ask for their assistance, said Butler.”