Congressional and court action blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from banning the use of lead ammunition isn’t tripping up the Humane Society of the United States, now focused on a new legislative bid to ban lead ammunition for sport hunting on national parks and national wildlife refuges.
Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle told Secrets that the effort is focused on requiring some agencies within the Interior Department, specifically parks and refuges, to stop the use of lead bullets.
The group and others claim 10-20 million animals a year from 130 species are poisoned eating the spent bullets, and pellets from shotgun shells.
“We are committed to the legislation and we will be working with our allies in Congress to get it introduced,” said Pacelle.
He noted that the Federal Wildlife Service has banned lead shot for hunting migratory birds, resulting in the production of several alternative ammos.
Opponents like the National Rifle Association recently cheered the EPAs decision not to ban lead are likely to fight the new effort. Several groups have said that there isn’t any way to prove that 10-20 million animals a year are killed from ingesting lead, and that the real goal is to limit hunting.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
