I write to shed light on a subject that is often overlooked in discussions about trophy hunting and trapping of mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado \u2014 consumption of their meat. Proponents of these activities may argue that the meat is used, but the reality is far from it. Mountain lion and bobcat meat is not inspected by the USDA, posing a potential public health risk. The meat could harbor zoonotic diseases, which can transfer from animals to humans, creating untold health risks.<\/p>\n
Further, you won\u2019t find mountain lion or bobcat meat on the menu in any restaurant that considers itself part of a civilized society. The very notion evokes a sense of disgust because it\u2019s fundamentally at odds with our ethical and social norms. The primary motivations for hunting these animals are not for food but for sport and profit, often leaving families of these beautiful creatures orphaned and vulnerable.<\/p>\n
The absence of mountain lion and bobcat meat in our food system isn\u2019t a mere coincidence; it\u2019s a reflection of both the potential dangers and a societal consensus that recognizes the grim implications of such consumption. Colorado\u2019s ballot initiative to ban trophy hunting and trapping of wild cats offers an opportunity to align our laws with both public health interests and ethical standards. Let\u2019s make the choice that benefits us all, including the wildlife we share our state with.<\/p>\n
For the cats,<\/p>\n
Carole Baskin, Tampa<\/em><\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: Baskin is CEO of Big Cat Rescue.<\/em><\/p>\n Re: \u201c40,000 drivers caught on camera using express lanes to pass others,\u201d Sept. 29 news story<\/p>\n OK, so we\u2019ve got this whiz-bang system that can read license plates on a car as it flashes past at 70 mph in the toll lanes. It can even read the state it came from and can track the driver down, send him a bill for his toll fee, and follow up if he doesn\u2019t pay it. All completely automated.<\/p>\n So, why can\u2019t we use those plate readers to read expired temporary tags and send those drivers a bill for their registration fees? Maybe it\u2019s because there are so many it would overload the system.<\/p>\n Richard Webb, Littleton<\/em><\/p>\n I have never known a politician who could not find a way to spend every tax dollar collected.<\/p>\n This Will Rogers-type statement clearly reflects the attitude of Colorado legislators as they continually try to whittle down the TABOR amendment. What is wrong with giving a refund to taxpayers instead of perpetually creating some new entity for unsustainable spending?<\/p>\nUse license plate readers to enforce registration<\/h4>\n
Another end run on TABOR<\/h4>\n