To all--

There are a couple of threads on the Forums about the Federal initiative to ban the sale of elephant ivory within the US unless the seller could prove the age of the ivory, when it was imported, through with ports, etc.

I have not tried to keep those threads updated, but at this time it appears that there is a bit of standoff between the USFWS and proponents of the ban on the one hand, and the Congress on the other hand. The last word I have is that Congress has put language in the funding for USFWS that none of the funds can be used to enforce such a ban. There are also a couple of other Bills in preparation which I have not read, so I cannot comment on what they say.

Meanwhile, New York might have already passed their own ban--the last I heard they had persuaded Governor Cuomo to sign it.

And the New Jersey legislature passed its own ban overwhemingly--with the bill now pending Governor Christie's signature.

And you are right--I have not read the NY bill, but the NJ bill included the ivory from extinct species such as mastodons and mammoths!

If you care about this--speak up to your Representatives and Senators, and tell them to write Federal legislation that makes sense and that preempts foolish state laws in California, NY, and NJ!

Larry

P.S.: Not long ago I read how (I think) Romania's orchestra had the bows for its stringed instruments impounded by Customs because the law says that ivory cannot be imported! The orchestra came on into the US anyway, and played with borrowed bows. Then, when they wanted to recover their own bows from Customs, they were told they would have to pay a $500 fine on each bow in order to get them back.