New bill bans ivory in New Jersey

CJ Wilson, Features Editor|August 8, 2014

CJ Wilson

Monday, Aug. 4 Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey, signed a bill banning the importing, purchasing, and selling of elephant ivory and rhino horn in New Jersey. This new law prevents any profits to be made from poaching.

“With this legislation, we are making it clear that there are strict consequences for individuals who would seek to profit from trafficking in these products and their harvesting that brings far-reaching, harmful consequences on endangered animal populations,” said Christie in a press release. “These stricter measures will help to reduce the amount of criminal activity that surrounds this industry while protecting wildlife populations that are already seriously threatened from this harmful practice.”

New Jersey is taking this law very seriously. First offense will be a disorderly persons offense with a fine of $1,000 or double the value of the product, whichever is greater. Second offense will be a fourth-degree crime with a fine of $5,000 or double the value of the product. Those found trading ivory in the black market will also receive this offense.

Wildlife advocates are celebrating the newly passed law. Kathleen Schatzmann, New Jersey state director for the Humane Society of the United States, said New Jersey has set an example for other states and countries to follow. John Calvelli, Wildlife Conservative Society executive vice president, said, “Today is an historic day for elephants and conservation.”

Sens. Raymond J. Lesniak and Christopher Bateman along with Assembly members Raj Mukherji and Mila M. Jasey supported the bill.

UPDATE:

New York joins the ban on ivory on Tuesday, World Elephant Day, following New Jersey’s ban on the 4th. They are currently the only states to ban ivory sales within their borders. The New York bill, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, make it illegal to sell elephant and mammoth ivory or rhino horns within the state with a few exceptions. One of the exceptions is “antiques demonstrated to be at least 100 years old and containing only a small amount of ivory.”

“The situation is dire, says John Calvelli, executive vice president for public affairs at the Wildlife Conservation Society. There were an estimated 1.2 million African elephants in 1980, but now the population is down to less than 420,000, the society estimates.” NBC News writes on their website. ”For forest elephants, a separate species from the savannah elephant, the news is worse. Ten percent of the population was killed in 2012, and another 10 percent in 2013, the society says. With fewer than 100,000 left, extinction could be only 10 years away.”

Are you ready to get this ban in Kentucky? We are already ahead of you at GCHS Eagles Eye. When contacted regarding H.R. 5052, the Lawful Ivory Protection Act of 2014, Congressman Ed Whitfield replied –

Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 5052, the Lawful Ivory Protection Act of 2014. This bill is currently awaiting further consideration by the House Committee on Natural Resources.

As you may know, shortly after President Obama announced the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking in February 2014, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published new rules restricting the commercial trade of any materials containing African elephant ivory in the U.S. In addition, FWS announced other regulations intended to protect African elephants through an international permit system for the ivory trade.

Consequently, I understand many antique dealers and collectors of firearms and musicians with older instruments—all of which contain ivory—had serious concerns about the impact these rules would have on their businesses and performances. Many believe the federal government must strike an appropriate balance that protects endangered species while not punishing small businesses or law-abiding Americans. Among other things, H.R. 5052 would permit the possession, sale, and transportation within the U.S. of items containing legal ivory, that is, elephant ivory that has been lawfully imported into the U.S. While I am not a Member of the Natural Resources Committee, I look forward to reviewing its reports on this bill and will certainly keep your thoughts in mind should it come up for a vote in the House of Representatives.