Thank you, but please keep the heat on!

Our lobbyists walking the halls of the Capitol tell us your responses are working! Members are asking to be taken off as co-authors of AB 719, and we hear that the bill is in serious trouble!

We can save animals and kill the bill! But please, on Monday we need to double down on our efforts.

Below is my original email I sent out last night...please tweet, or make calls on Monday. Thank you for the help and keep up the great work!


TWO CALLS TO ACTION!

Earlier this year we asked you to oppose a bill that would change existing state law originally passed in 1970 that protects alligators and crocodiles.

With your help we were able to defeat AB 527 (Voepel), but now they are back trying to reintroduce the bill with some shady legislative maneuvering. We can't let them get away with this!

The new bill is AB 719 , authored by Assembly Members Blanca Rubio, Adam Gray, Principal Coauthor Anna Caballero, and co-authors: Senators Jones, Assembly Members Archuleta, Cooper, Flora, Gallagher, and Waldron.

We must bring down the house with calls, protests, tweets, posts, etc. to stop this egregious effort to change our historic law.


1. FOR THOSE OF YOU USING TWITTER, PLEASE TWEET THE FOLLOWING:

HELP! @LouisVuitton & alligator & crocodile industry are trying to exempt animal-saving law. RT to help keep CA's protections! #NoOnAB719 CC: @Rendon63rd @SenToniAtkins @LorenaSGonzalez @HenrySternCA @BenAllenCA @SenateHertzberg @SenHannahBeth @CASenCaballero @AsmBlancaRubio

2. PLEASE CALL THE LEGISLATORS LISTED BELOW AND TELL THEM TO STOP #AB719!

Senator Henry Stern, 916-651-4027
Senator Brian Jones, 916-651-4038
Senator Benjamin Allen, 916-651-4026
Senator Andreas Borgeas, 916-651-4008
Senator Anna Caballero, 916-651-4012
Senator Robert Hertzberg, 916-651-4018
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, 916-651-4019
Senator Bill Monning, 916-651-4017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


ANIMAL ACTIVISTS RALLY TO KILL BILL THAT WILL ALLOW SALE OF ALLIGATOR AND CROCODILE PRODUCTS IN CALIFORNIA

Assembly Bill 719 sponsored by Louisiana Fish & Game, and the high fashion industry, would continue the exemption for this cruel industry

JUNE 20, 2019 – Laguna Beach, CA - Animal rights activists are rallying supporters, asking for their help in pressuring California legislators to permanently discontinue an exemption to California law that has allowed the sale of alligator and crocodile skins since 2006. A recent poll showed that 75% of Californians would support a ban on importing, exporting, or selling exotic animal hides and products.

“We must fight loud and hard,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO, Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL), a leading political animal advocacy group creating and changing laws to support animal rights, protection and welfare in California and beyond.

“Our goal is to save literally millions of alligators and crocodiles from torture and death around the world. We are so close but there is no time to lose. Animal rights supporters need to step up now or the slaughter of these animals will continue indefinitely,” said Mancuso.
 
California banned the sale of alligator and crocodile back in 1970. The ban was lifted by legislation in 2006 that established a sunset clause to allow the legal sale of alligator and crocodile products, which was later extended again in 2009 and 2014. Those extensions have been backed by high fashion retailers and a coalition of breeders from Louisiana. The most recent exemption is scheduled to sunset on Jan. 1, 2020.

In February, a bill, AB 527 (Voepel) was introduced in the Assembly that would have extended the exemption into 2030. The bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in April.

But supporters of the bill – which include Louis Vuitton, Bijan, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) – are taking another run at an extension. Assembly Members Adam Gray (D-Merced) and Blanca Rubio (D-West Covina) are co-authoring AB 719, which is currently in the Senate Rules Committee – a gut and amend strategy as a last ditch effort. The bill will likely be heard in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, chaired by Senator Henry Stern (D-Calabasas).

Mancuso is urging activists and celebrities to spread the word through social media posts, to tweet and lobby their state representatives, and to make plans to travel to Sacramento to attend a hearing on the bill.

“We’ve collectively killed this bill before, thanks to the loud and united voice of animal lovers across the state and thanks to Assembly leadership with compassion and morals,” Mancuso said. “Now they’re doing a legislative "jailbreak." There is no place in California for promoting the killing and skinning of crocodiles and alligators out of the vanity of wearing or carrying exotic skins. We’re better than this. We’re hoping our legislative leaders hear us and shut this effort down.”  
Please, Please, Please...

IF YOU HAVEN'T YET SIGNED UP TO SUPPORT OUR BILLS PLEASE DO NOW!

SCIL has 8 sponsored bills making their way through the second house, on their way to the Governor's desk to become law. We need support letters!

We have a New Form on our Website  that will enable you to pick and choose, or select all our bills to support with a few easy clicks. This way, we do not have to email you every time for your support letters.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you are a group, local government, or organization, we still need your support letter on your letterhead and sent to: [email protected]. Thank you!
Thank you for making the calls and signing up for our support letters. Together we are changing the world in animal rights, protection, and welfare.

Please make a donation today to help us keep going. We are midway through the legislative process.

Gratefully yours,
Judie

Judie Mancuso
Founder/CEO/President
Social Compassion in Legislation
Social Compassion in Legislation
www.socialcompassioninlegislation.org