Dear Humanitarians:

Your efforts were successful in protecting the mourning doves in Michigan.  On December 14, 2000 the Michigan State Senate defeated legislation that would have repealed the 95 year-old humane law protecting the mourning dove.  The bill, supported by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Michigan Union Conservation Clubs (MUCC) failed to receive the 20 votes needed to pass this bill in the Senate.

The bill, introduced by Representative Susan Tabor (R-Delta Township), passed the Michigan House of Representatives by a very narrow margin in late November.  Representative Tabor pushed her legislation as a “good way of getting more young people involved in hunting.”  The House vote took place before the public outcry in opposition of the bill that flooded the Senate with letters, calls and emails when they returned for a lame-duck session.

Several Senators, who are hunters themselves, commented about the inappropriate timing of this bill.  One Senator had even voted for lifting the ban five years ago, but this time Senator Ken DeBeaussaert (D-Chesterfield Township) opposed the legislation because it had been introduced during a lame-duck session with no time for public input.  Senator DeBeaussaert was one of many members to be offered “special funding for pet projects or other enticements” in an attempt to influence their votes for the bill.  Senator Harry Gast, an NRA and MUCC member, told fellow senators, "I know I'm offending a lot of people. I'm not going to let you great white hunters come into my backyard and shoot my doves."

Thanks for all you did to save the doves!  Best wishes for the New Year!

Related Press:

Doves win one in state Senate - Chris Christoff/Detroit Free Press (December 15, 2000)

Michigan State Senate Vote:  December 14, 2000

To contact your Senator click here.

Senators who voted to keep the ban on hunting of mourning doves (Against repeal of ban on hunting doves)
Bill Bullard Jr. (District 15), Oakland
Dianne Byrum, (District 25), Ingham
Kenneth J. DeBeaussaert, (District 11), Macomb
Harry Gast, (District 20), Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph
Shirley Johnson (District 13), Oakland
Don Koivisto, (District 38), Baraga, Delta, Dickinson
Burton Leland, (District 5), Wayne
Arthure J. Miller Jr, (District 10), Macomb
Raymond M. Murphy, (District 3), Wayne
Walter H. North, (District 37), Alcona, Alger, Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan,
                                                 Chippewa, Emmet, Iosco, Luce,  Mackinac,
                                                 Montgomery, Oscoda, Presque Isle, Schoolcraft
Gary Peters, (District 14), Oakland
John J. H. Schwarz, (District 24), Calhoun, Eaton, Ingham
Alma Wheeler Smith, (District 18), Washtenaw
Leon Stille, (District 32), Muskegon, Ottawa
Joe Young Jr., (District 1), Wayne

Senators who voted to repeal the ban on hunting of mourning doves  (In favor of repeal of ban on hunting doves)
Loren R. Bennett (District 8), Wayne
John D. Cherry, Jr. (District 28), Genesee, Oakland
Dan L. DeGrow (District 27), Lapeer, Sanilac, St. Clair
Christopher D. Dingell (District 7), Wayne
Mat J. Dunaskiss, (District 16), Oakland
Joanne G. Emmons, (District 23), Barry, Ionia, Isabella, Mecosta, Montcalm
Mike Goschka, (District 33), Gratiot, Saginaw
Joel D. Gougeon, (District 34), Arenac, Bay, Huron, Ogemaw, Tuscola
Beverly S. Hammerstrom, (District 17), Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw
Philip E. Hoffman, (District 19), Branch, Hillsdale, Jackson
Dave Jaye, (District 12), Macomb
Thaddeus McCotter, (District 9), Wayne
George A. McManus, (District 36), Antrim, Benzie, Crawford, Gran Traverse,
                                                          Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee,
                                                          Otsego, Roscommon, Wexford
Mike Rogers, (District 26), Clinton, Livingston, Shiawassee
Bill Schuette, (District 35), Clare, Gladwin, Lake Mason, Midland, Newaygo,
                                            Oceana, Osceola
Dale L. Schugars, (District 21), Kalamazoo, St. Joseph
Kenneth R. Sikkema, (District 31), Kent
Glen Steil, (District 30), Kent
William Van Regenmorter, (District 22), Allagan, Ottawa

ABSENT
Robert L. Emerson, (District 29), Genesee
George Z. Hart, (District 6), Wayne
Virgil C. Smith Jr, (District 2), Wayne
Jackie Vaughn III, (District 4), Wayne