Rep. Ulmer, You're Joking, Right? http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/NEWS02/602210395/1025 Rep. Ulmer says: "they put their life savings into this and (suddenly) they're being put out of business. I think that's wrong." " With all due respect to the very fine Hoosier Representative who decorates his office with wall to wall animal heads - have you checked the subsidies from the USDA that the federal taxpayers are already giving to some of these trophy farm operators? If they thought they were operating legally, why do they continue to go back to the NRC each year asking for authorization to operate shoot farms openly? And - they do go back every single year since 1999 - even though a bill legalizing their abhorent form of agricultural recreation has not been approved by the Indiana legislature! They come back every year because a few legislators(wonder which ones .... hmmmmm) promise them a slam dunk in the legislature and have yet to come through for them. But, boy, do they keep on trying! Dave Dimmich (deer farmer) said that once this got to the Governor's desk "It's a done deal." NOT SO FAST, Mr. Deer Farmer. Yes, Russ Bellar, Grand Deer Farming Honcho of Peru, Indiana, (sitting in prison at the moment) , did give thousands to the governor's campaign, and the Sportsmen's PAC (read: Deer farmers based in Peru, IN) did also give tens of thousands to the governor's campaign, and another deer farmer gave $2500.00 (personally) to the Attorney General's campaign .... but public opinion is not in favor of calling the raising of live antlers for shooting an agricultural enterprise. We support legitimate farmers - not this business of breeding more deer to be shot on farms for fun on the weekend. And - this is very important - nota bene, Counselor (s): Mr. Rodney Bruce (for whom you feel such great sympathy) states that trophy hunting is not the sole source of income for his getaway weekends in the country. He says he offers guided photography tours, refreshing weekend stays in the country, and general wildlife tours. Guess what? HE CAN CONTINUE WITH THAT BUSINESS! Counselor(s): Please check with Mr. Bruce to see how much of his income on his federal tax returns he attributes to the weekend shooting of livestock ........ and how much income does he attribute to his pastoral country getaway operation (without the concurrent, apparently incidental, bonus killing of some animal?) Knowing that "breed 'em to shoot 'em farming" had not yet been approved by the legislature, how foolish of this man to continue to invest his savings in shooter bucks? (If, in fact, he did jeopardize his total life savings on shooter bucks as the esteemed Hoosier Representative indicates.) That's called a "bad business investment" in my part of the world. And - since you are so worried about the "life savings" of these operators ..... why would Dr. Brad Thurston (plastic surgeon, Indianapolis) put HIS life savings into buying shooter deer? Silly, silly. Especially since his wife - Mrs.(Susan) Dr. Brad Thurston goes to the NRC year after year to ask for authorization and clarification for her deer business ..... why not put that same money in a nice CD, or under your mattress, until the authorization to run recreational live trophy shoot farms is approved by the Indiana legislature? By the way, have you checked the price of deer semen? Not too many 'poh peeples buying and poking up gallons of that stuff! However, it is LEGAL to sell deer for meat, urine and semen. You can even sell the antlers if there isn't a current international embargo against them. It's so endearing (xxoo) that some of you canned hunt FRIENDly legislators are concerned about the ultimate disposition of these animals! But, never fear. These hapless critters can be slaughtered for meat - if it is done in conjunction with humane slaughter laws outlined by the USDA. It is time to end this sham. Hiding language to allow shooting of exotics and canned hunt animals in a bill proclaiming to service "soil conservation" (good grief!) such as SB314, is just lowdown sneaky ...... we have serious issues to deal with in Indiana. Stop playing games to benefit these 15 special hunt farm operators ...... the general public (the other six million+ of us) do not appreciate your taking up the time of our legislators in this short session to proofread every piece of legislation which is unfortunate enough to pass through your hands .... And, while you are in such a symphatico mood ..... how about helping some of my friends "recoup" their bad business investments .... you know, the inflatable pushup bras, the fat dissolving gels, the do-it-yourself home vasectomy kit ..... Or - do you only protect investors in Breed,Drug, Ship, and Shoot?