Minnesota wants to ban lead ammunition and fishing gear

A new bill proposed in Minnesota introduced legislation prohibiting the use or possession of lead ammunition while hunting. According to the Sports Alliance, Kelly Morrison, State Representative for Minnesota, is the author Bill 2556. The bill calls for a complete ban on lead bullets and shotgun shells when used for hunting. The bill allows the use of lead ammunition for non-hunting shooting and offers a “buy-back” program where the state can purchase lead ammunition from hunters who should replace their charges with non-hunting options. toxic. Funding has not been established for the âbuy-backâ program.
The recommended penalty for offenders is $ 500 for a first offense, with subsequent offenses requiring a fine of between $ 1,000 and $ 5,000. House Bill 2556 currently sits on the House Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources Finance and Policy, where it awaits a hearing.
Minnesota is the last state to jump on the unleaded train that began when Maine introduced the LD 1015 while New York introduced a 703. Environmentalists frequently refer to an inconclusive study to support their claim about the toxicity of lead to animals. According to Brian Lynn of the Sportsmen’s Alliance, âThe California condor studies that the states have relied on were first referenced in 2013 and are inconclusive. Lead ammunition was banned in the California condor area where the study took place, and it was banned statewide. These referenced isotope levels have not changed, indicating another source of lead ingestion by scavenging birds. Almost a decade later, the problem is back in the spotlight.
The Minnesota bill also includes a ban on weights and lead fishing lures. Switching to non-toxic increases expenses for hunters and fishermen as ammunition bills plummet with an already depleted stock of ammunition.