I found a feather

[JSzymczyk 0]

The more I know about people ... the more people I meet ... the more people I learn to hate.

 

Another reason to NOT have kids ... they either grow up to become the people I hate, or they grow up having to deal with those people. Either result is cruelty to somebody or some thing.

 

Do you need a big hug Marine?

 

Group (((hug))) with Mike in the middle...

 

LOLOLOLOL

[Mechanical Advantage 0]

what about feathers purchased from a source that can legally sell them such as from another country. I have seen feather on ebay from other countries that I am sure are illegal here

As Mike said, there are plenty of people who will illegally kill animals and try to pass the fur/feathers off as legally obtained items. Making it illegal to possess them at all removes the opportunity for someone to make an excuse.

[artimus001 0]

"there is only one sin; and that is theft. all sin is rooted in theft."

this is a very simple statement that covers all of my bases in life. it also is the gut check that helps protect me from the bubble wrap that society tries to wrap around me. you know, the "do this, don't do that, can't you read the signs." mentality.

 

it is sad to think that a gift from Mother Earth, could be considered unlawful. for me, finding a feather on the river is just that, a gift. in all honesty, i would be in possession of my feathers, NO MATTER where i lived because it meets the standards of my opening statement.

 

i envision a group of adult fishers standing around a feather on the ground afraid to look at it, let alone to pick it up. this is a feather here folks, not child porn.

[Ed Gallop 0]

I had some Polar Bear that an Eskimo in Kotzebue gave me. There are some legal means to possess some hair and feathers but not when it comes to Eagles, There are tons of them in southeast Alaska. Wish there were a legal way to get one for my hat, other than moving north of the border to Canada. I almost did when I retired but things changed in recent years. Couldn't move there now.

[Ed Gallop 0]

There is more to life than individual desire. Sure... The laws are to protect you, to protect animals, and to discourage violators. The bubble wrap is not intended for you. It is for society and innocent victims. There are bad people. Look what the so called civilized lawless people have done to North America.

[artimus001 0]

at some point these acts and laws were passed. can anyone explain what the factors were that happened (in the US), to have them passed into law?? just curious.......

 

i really am bewildered at times, when there is a situation such as this. when one region says legal; an another says illegal. eagle feathers FOUND in Alaska or N.W.T. are the same feathers as far as i see it.

 

my idea of bubble wrap (as an example)......

if i were to stand in the median busking for quarters (to get bus fare and a coffee), to fish a section of river with a weir dam (with a log jammed spillway), and smoked a joint (non-criminal source) before i started; i would have broken the law every step of the way. yet no where in this scenario was anyone/thing hurt, injured, or violated.

that is bubble wrap.

 

edited for clarity - AJ

[the.atmos 0]

"there is only one sin; and that is theft. all sin is rooted in theft."

this is a very simple statement that covers all of my bases in life. it also is the gut check that helps protect me from the bubble wrap that society tries to wrap around me. you know, the "do this, don't do that, can't you read the signs." mentality.

 

it is sad to think that a gift from Mother Earth, could be considered unlawful. for me, finding a feather on the river is just that, a gift. in all honesty, i would be in possession of my feathers, NO MATTER where i lived because it meets the standards of my opening statement.

 

i envision a group of adult fishers standing around a feather on the ground afraid to look at it, let alone to pick it up. this is a feather here folks, not child porn.

I agree with this 100%. Our government is so good at what they do, they got us afraid of our own shadows.

[the.atmos 0]

If Thoreau were around to see this, he wouldn't be around for very long. What we've let our laws and politicians devolve into is pathetic. There's no such thing as honesty anymore and it's a damn shame.

 

Bald eagles aren't even endangered. They're not even rare. Why are they protected? Cause it symbolizes our "unyielding spirits?" THAT, my friends, is for the birds... literally.

[flytire 0]

can anyone explain what the factors were that happened (in the US), to have them passed into law?? just curious.......

 

The Weeks–McLean Act was a law of the United States sponsored by Representative John W. Weeks ® of Massachusetts and Senator George P. McLean ® of Connecticut that prohibited the spring hunting and marketing of migratory birds and the importation of wild bird feathers for women's fashion, ending what was called “millinery murder”. It gave the Secretary of Agriculture the power to set hunting seasons nationwide, making it the first U.S. law ever passed to regulate the shooting of migratory birds. It became effective on 4 March 1913 but, because of a constitutional weakness, was later replaced by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

 

eagles

 

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/midwestbird/EaglePermits/index.html

 

more info

 

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/massachusetts_conservation/Nineteenth_Century_Trends_in_%20American_Conservation.html

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacey_Act_of_1900

[artimus001 0]

thanks for the info

 

so, an act that was written over 100 yrs ago, to deal with a specific issue of the day, now with that issue being moot as far i can see in 2014; could nail you with a criminal conviction. wow.

 

fair for gifts, that i can see. a ban on buying, selling, trading of some, ya.

[flytire 0]

as silly as it seems, its still a law that's on the books. only you can decide to respect it or not.

 

just like all of the asinine "blue laws" that have no purpose in todays society

 

will the law be enforced if you pick up a few feathers in the back yard or out in the forest I seriously doubt it. just don't brag about your precious find on forums and bulletin boards

 

only you can determine the value of a single or a few feathers.

 

the ones under my bird feeder have absolutely no value for my tying needs.

 

1 or 2 feathers 2 inches long x 1/2 inches wide (if that) isn't worth picking up.

 

what would happen if we didn't have the act to protect wildlife? people would shoot everything they see (like a 100 years ago) and then no more wildlife

[McGnat 0]

Fads have a bad way of coming back. Just look what happened with saddle hackle a couple years ago. What would happen if it were eagle feathers and the eagle was unprotected?

[Ed Gallop 0]

Well... When I was an early teen living in VA Beach I saw Eagles every year. I watched and timed an eagle leaving it's nest and was sure I could climb the tree for a peek in the nest. It took longer than I thought. I was within about 20 feet when I was attacked. I felt the wind from it's wings and the scream was terrifying. I scooted down as fast as possible, scratching and bruising my arms and torso. About half way down the eagle realized my retreat and left me alone. If I had fallen at that height I would likely have not survived. Eagles became extremely rare to see by the time I was 20s, and they are rare now, but are coming back slowly. They may be plentiful in Alaska but not so in most of the lower 48. I'm all for any legislation that protects declining wildlife, especially when there are poachers looking for profits. Look what happened to the bison, beaver, wolves, and other species. If we made it legal to shoot eagles they would soon disappear. It is so serious of a problem that it is a felony. Possession of the feathers is necessary because it eliminates the very difficult task of catching someone poaching. Laws are necessary as long as human nature exist. When a federal, state, or local law is enacted it can't be removed from the books. However, if the law becomes unnecessary the judicial system will discourage enforcement. I respect the laws.

[mikechell 0]

 

if i were to stand in the median busking for quarters (to get bus fare and a coffee), to fish a section of river with a weir dam (with a log jammed spillway), and smoked a joint (non-criminal source) before i started; i would have broken the law every step of the way. yet no where in this scenario was anyone/thing hurt, injured, or violated.

that is bubble wrap.

 

 

No ... but:

1. Most people who are "busking" for quarters are not contributing members of society.

2. Many people who fish are actually not licensed nor care for the environment and will take many more than their fair share.

3. Smoking a joint responsibly wouldn't bother me ... smoking one while on your lunch break is why I hope it's never legalized.

 

The laws aren't written to keep responsible people from doing the "wrong" things. They are written because too many people would take advantage of the "wrong" thing irresponsibly.

It's the cases of some ruining things for every body else.

[artimus001 0]

when a discussion about enviro-legislation turns into what feels like character assassination, it is time for me to leave the conversation