Illinois Geneticist Fined in Texas Deer Semen Case

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Found this definition on the internet.

I don't understand the charges, since the Lacey Act talks about wildlife, and injurious.

In Minnesota farmed deer are considered domestic livestock by law.

Isn't the Lacey Act being stretched by the government agencies? Kind of scary. What could they do with the patriot act?

Gary



The Lacey Act



When the Lacey Act, named for Representative John Lacey of Iowa, was passed in 1900 it became the nation's first far-reaching federal wildlife protection law. The act was prompted by growing concern about interstate profiteering in illegally taken game. It was amended in the 1930s and 40s, and again in 1981.

Under the Lacey Act today, it is illegal to import, export, sell, acquire, or purchase fish, wildlife or plants taken, possessed, transported, or sold:



in violation of U.S. or Indian law, or

in interstate or foreign commerce involving any fish, wildlife, or plants taken possessed or sold in violation of State or foreign law.

The law covers all fish and wildlife and their parts or products, and plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species or State law. Commercial guiding and outfitting are considered "sales" under the Lacey Act.

Injurious Wildlife Provisions of the Lacey Act



The Lacey Act was amended in 1949 to prohibit import of wild vertebrates and other animals listed in the Act or declared by the Secretary of the Interior to be injurious, except under certain regulated conditions, such as for research or museum display.



Declaring a species injurious involves a five-step process: Petition, Notice for Information, Record of Compliance, Proposed Rule, and Final Rule. The Service may initiate a proposed rule without a petition or notice for information if the scientific data support a listing. The Lacey Act does not set a time frame for making "injurious" determinations. It typically takes 12 to 18 months complete the evaluation and publish a Final Rule. Currently, 16 species, or groups of species, are listed as "injurious" under the provisions of the Lacey Act.



Enforcement Provisions of the Lacey Act



The Act sets fines for violations involving imports or exports, or commercial violations in which the value of the wildlife exceeds $350. Fines for misdemeanor violations are currently set at a maximum of $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for organizations. Maximum fines for felonies are presently $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for organizations.



Officers enforcing the Lacey Act may carry firearms; make arrests; search and seize; issue subpoenas and warrants; and inspect vessels, vehicles, aircraft, packages, crates, and containers on arrival or departure from the United States. The law authorizes rewards for information leading to arrests, criminal convictions, civil penalties, or forfeiture of property, and for payment of costs of temporary care for fish, wildlife, or plants needed for court proceedings.
 
Collecting semen is considered injurious to deer?



Definition of "injurious" :



injurious:

adjective harmful, bad, damaging, corrupting, destructive, adverse, unhealthy, detrimental, hurtful, pernicious, noxious, ruinous, deleterious, iniquitous, disadvantageous, baneful (archaic), maleficent, unconducive Stress in itself is not necessarily injurious.



Looks like another reason to support the ACA. We as cervid producers, need to make wildlife agencies interference in our industry stop!



Gary
 
Its hard to pass judgment either way when you don't know the whole story. What i can say is stories like this put us in a bad light that we can't afford.
 
I guess I was wrong about Ray not having any "enemies" among us, but I don't think a disgruntled customer could/should become an enemy in the sense. Evidently because the bucks were not Texas deer they were livestock. I will be scratching my head on this call till I die. The native deer outside of the operation in question are Texas wildlife...not livestock. Deer are not considered livestock in the Lone Star State. So...as I see it a "loop hole" became a noose. Go figure.......
 
This just in...... Santa arrested under the Lacy Act for illegally importing cervids into Texas
 

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