Radical extremists want what they want. When they don’t get it, they try to force their way by using other means.

Such is the case in New Jersey where the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action filed a petition with the New Jersey Fish and Game Council to ban the use of lead ammunition. Both activist groups are led by Wayne Pacelle, former president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, an anti-hunting organization that changed its name after Pacelle resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.

Petitioners claimed traditional lead ammunition poses significant risks to wildlife, ecosystems and human health, including hunting families, and that the availability of non-lead alternatives makes a reliance on lead ammo unnecessary. The New Jersey Fish and Game Council disagreed in its ruling, saying such a ban lacked scientific support and the ability to implement regulatory changes. It also spelled out that the availability of lead-free ammunition is limited and significantly more expensive. The council also pointed out that “the lack of availability and the cost of lead-free ammunition will impose additional costs on an already declining hunter population and may affect participation rates, which, in turn, would have significant consequences on wildlife management, ecosystem health, conservation and funding.”

With their petition denied, activists turned to an all-too-familiar wheelhouse – the courts. They appealed the ruling to the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. 

New Jersey is not the lone anti-lead ammunition target. Activists recently filed a petition to ban the use of lead ammunition in Colorado. Leading the way among the 18 groups behind that effort is Pacelle’s Animal Wellness Action. California is currently the only state to enact such a ban.

It is already illegal to hunt waterfowl with lead shot as that rule took effect 35 years ago.

Hunt 2 Conserve supports the New Jersey Fish and Game Council decision.

About Hunt 2 Conserve

Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.