Louisiana sues California over alligator ban

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Associated Press Updated 5:09 pm CST, Saturday, December 14, 2019



Photo: Robert F. Bukaty, AP
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FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 file photo, a two-year-old alligator is held by a tourist at an airboat ride tour company on the Tamiami Trail just north of Everglades National Park, Fla. Louisiana is suing California over the state's decision to ban the import and sale of alligator products, saying the ban will hurt an important state industry and ultimately could hurt the state's wetlands. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, Louisiana said the economy surrounding alligators has played a key role in bringing back the American alligator population and is an important factor in protection wetlands and other species besides alligators that depend on the wetlands.


NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana is suing the state of California over its decision to ban the import and sale of alligator products, saying the ban will hurt an important Louisiana industry and ultimately could hurt the state's wetlands.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Louisiana said the economy surrounding alligators has played a key role in bringing back the American alligator population and is an important factor in protecting wetlands and other species besides alligators that depend on the wetlands.

“California has nevertheless attempted to destroy the market for American alligator products notwithstanding the fact that no such alligators live in California," the lawsuit says.

According to The Times-Picayune/the New Orleans Advocate, California banned alligator skins and meats in the 1970s but repeatedly issued exceptions that allowed sales. The newspaper reports that the most recent exemption expires on Jan. 1 of next year, and this time California's legislature did not pass another exemption. The newspaper reports the alligator ban was backed by a coalition of animal rights and environmental groups.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Louisiana-sues-California-over-alligator-ban-14906558.php

[roamer65]

1. The state of Louisiana can go fuck themselves.

California can do what it wants in this matter.

[BigmanPigman]

2. You just wrote what I just said, word for word.

Fuck them! I hope the alligators bite the morons in the ass.

[roamer65]

3. +1000

Alligator revenge!

[NickB79]

4. Louisiana is right here

The legal, controlled hunting of alligators has been the reason their population has expanded, habitat has been protected, and poaching has been reduced. Alligators are no longer anywhere close to endangered, reproduce rapidly, and offer a sustainable source of meat and leather that pumps money into the local economy by providing rural people a source of employment.

Short of an argument based on animal rights (which could be applied to any species we eat for meat), it has no basis for existing.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

6. +1. N/t

[Igel]

7. I wonder if this could be viewed

as a restriction on interstate trade.

[olddad65]

11. That is all well and good. But why should the state of CA. be obligated to import your crap.

[sl8]

13. What obligation? Do you think that lack of ban implies an obligation to buy?

Have I missed something? Where do you see that anyone is trying to obligate California to import anything?

[Seeking Serenity]

14. And alligators are excellent natural regulators

of beaver populations, which, if left unchecked, can destroy acres upon acres of farming, ranching, or timber-seedling land through their prodigious dam-building.

[LeftInTX]

15. I tend to agree

It would need to see how the suit is worded too.

I see no reason to ban alligator products. They are not endangered. An argument could be made for banning venison or any products made with native game.

Why are they singling out alligators? Are live alligators being sent? Live alligators could become an invasive specie in California and they also carry salmonella.

ETA: CA had a blanket ban that started in the 1970s, but since alligators have made a comeback CA has signed an exemption to the ban. For some reason, this year CA didn't file an exemption. (I assume due to some lack of oversight)

[TheBlackAdder]

5. Fuck you, Louisiana. You have a ban on the 21st Century.

[Brainfodder]

8. More disgusting CORPORATE BS?

Meanwhile, that area of the country is going to wind up one huge wetland?

[hatrack]

9. An endless array of oil industry canals covering the delta, nutria, stronger storms, higher seas

A rapidly warming world, and the absolute refusal of Louisiana to do anything to rein in the fossil fuel industry - all have nothing to do with the steady erosion and disintegration of the state's wetlands.

But here's the culprit! The refusal of a California to buy alligator shoes!! That's what's really hurting the wetlands.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

10. We used to live on one of the inter-coastal canals in south Florida.

We leaned quickly to never allow our pets or small children in the back yard without adult supervision, and I mean FOCUSED supervision. Those bastards crawled out of the canals to sun themselves in our backyard all the time. Some were so brazen as to crawl up to the house and lounge on the patio. Fencing did not stop them. We were not allowed to put out poison. We were not allowed to put out traps. We could shoot them if they threatened us. It was like living in Wild Fucking Kingdom.

Louisiana should pay more attention to the educational, medical, housing and welfare needs of their citizens than worrying about the fucking alligators.

[zonkers]

12. Driving cross country, I saw baby alligator heads sold at roadstops. What a barbaric thing.

There really are two America's maybe three. There is so little respect for senient creatures in general.

[EX500rider]

16. So cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, fish, deer etc all ok...alligators no?

Certainly not endangered anymore, came off the list in 1987.