NRA SHOULD GIVE FIREARMS TO RANGERS

Randy Mecredy
November 30, 2015


There are two countries that can help stop the disappearance of elephants from the wild – the US and China.  However, the National Rifle Association would rather turn a blind eye toward elephant conservation than see a restriction placed on the number of trophies that can be imported into the US by their members.  

An alarming increase in demand for ivory is driving the elephants toward extinction and the US is the second largest market for importing ivory goods (made in China).   Imposing limits on trophy imports, or better yet an outright ban on any ivory, is a great first step toward improving conservation efforts to restore the dwindling population of the African elephant.

Tightening controls helps to close loopholes and avenues that are being exploited by traffickers and terrorist groups that fund their efforts with money from the ivory trade.  It also provides clearer guidelines for the US Fish and Wildlife Service to use to curtail the efforts of those who are illegally smuggling ivory into the US.

Poachers have ties to organized crime and violent groups who cross international boarders to slaughter elephants for their tusks.  They are typically better armed than the park rangers and quite often the standoffs result in a desperate fight for survival for the men charged with protecting the wildlife.  As is evident from the recent October dragnet operation in the Congo Garamba National Park resulting in the deaths of three rangers and a Congolese colonel.  

I hold a firm belief that improved conservation efforts will help promote economic growth in Africa, especially in countries that rely on wildlife tourism, and fight the people intent on terrorizing communities and destroying governments.  Establishing a US policy to ban the import of ivory is an example of how protecting wildlife can be tied directly to concerns about improving the economy, address corruption within governments, and our own national security issues. 

As a proponent of game hunting and wildlife conservation, I am disturbed by the efforts spearheaded by the National Rifle Association to block or water down any action to help protect the African elephants.  If the NRA really wants to do something to improve conservation, then perhaps they should give upgraded firearms to the national park rangers who are protecting the wildlife from poachers.