Delegation Introduces Griz Attack Law

Ambiguities in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have prompted Idaho’s Congressional Delegation to introduce legislation clarifying the rights of individuals to protect themselves and their loved ones from grizzly bear attacks.  Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressman Raúl Labrador say the legislation would amend the ESA to permit actions carried out against grizzly bears in self-defense situations. The Delegation members note that these proposed changes to the law would be a drastic improvement over the current ESA regulations protecting the grizzly bear, which make it possible, but extremely difficult to legally take a grizzly bear in an act of self-defense or defense of another human.  The new legislation states: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law … the provisions of this Act shall not apply with respect to the taking of any grizzly bear by an individual who demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the individual carried out the taking as a result of 1) self-defense; 2) defense of another individual; or 3) a reasonable belief of imminent danger posed by the grizzly bear to any individual”/U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo news release. More here. (AP file photo, for illustrative purposes) H/T: Darrell Kerby

Question: Do you support these changes to Endangered Species Act?