The bill in question is S 2978, which has been introduced by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The co-sponsors are Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska; Senator Max Baucus of Montana; Senator Conrad Burns also of Montana; Senator John Ensign of Nevada; and Senator Benjamin Nelson of Nebraska. As this issue went to press, the bill had been read twice and had been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Late last month, with almost no news coverage or discussion, Senator Reid attempted to have the bill attached to an end-of-session Omnibus Spending Bill. Fortunately, the effort failed. It does not mean the bill is dead, however. Not by any means. When Congress reconvenes in January, Reid fully intends to re-introduce the bill, or at least one similar to it. We were told that by an aide in the Senator's office, who went on to invite The Hunting Report to offer suggestions on how the wishes of all hunters could be reasonably accommodated by a revised bill. We certainly plan to take the aide up on that offer.
The move to restore states' rights to discriminate against nonresidents stems, of course, from the recent 9th Circuit Court decision that declared Arizona's 10 percent cap on nonresident permits illegal. The decision brought into question similar caps in other states. A wholesale move toward leveling the playing field between residents and........(continued)
