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Tribe Seeks Greater Freedom to Kill Eagles

allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,690 ✭✭✭✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
from Yahoo.com

Tribe Seeks Greater Freedom to Kill Eagles Mon May 22, 7:09 PM ET



JACKSON, Wyo. - The Northern Arapaho Tribe and a man accused of shooting a bald eagle on the Wind River Indian Reservation say the federal government should make it easier for American Indians to apply to kill bald eagles for use in religious ceremonies.

The tribe has filed a brief in the case of Winslow Friday, who allegedly shot the eagle without a permit in March 2005, and planned to make its arguments before U.S. District Judge William Downes on Monday.

The case moves forward as the federal government considers removing protections for bald eagles as a threatened species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking public comments on the proposal through June 19.

Federal law allows enrolled tribal members to get a permit to kill bald eagles in certain cases. But Friday and the Northern Arapaho say there is no clear way to apply for the permit. They also say the bald eagle population in Wyoming and other states has grown large enough to enable some of the birds to be killed with little harm to the species.

In the federal government's response, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Healy said allowing people to shoot eagles without permission would undermine the current balance between preservation and religious freedom.

Healy argued that there was no evidence Friday was selected to hunt an eagle or that he had purified himself prior to shooting the eagle. Purification is said to be necessary for the eagle to be used in a ceremony, Healy wrote.

Also, also noted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a repository in Denver of eagles shot illegally or killed by cars or power lines. Friday and the Northern Arapaho say relying on the eagle repository results in long delays and that those eagles can't be used in some traditional ceremonies.

If convicted, Friday faces up to a year in jail and a fine up to $100,000.

Bald eagles were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1978. They were reclassified from endangered to threatened in 1995 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now estimates that more than 7,700 nesting pairs of bald eagles inhabit the lower 48 states.

Even if bald eagles were removed from Endangered Species Act protection, they would continue to be protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Comments

  • jsergovicjsergovic Member Posts: 5,526
    edited November -1
    quote: man accused of shooting a bald eagle on the Wind River Indian Reservation

    What is the Federal Government doing, placing their laws on a Free Nation?
    Didn't we screw them enough?
  • alledanalledan Member Posts: 19,541
    edited November -1
    At this time in history,I see no reason to kill eagles-not even for religious rituals.
  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by alledan
    At this time in history,I see no reason to kill "insert species here"-not even for religious rituals.


    Isn't that closer to what you intended? Because that is where it will end up "my religion forbids the use of pork", "my religion forbids the killing of cows", "my religion worships chickens", etc etc. The PC train only rolls down hill.
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Zuni Tribe keeps and breeds eagles harvesting moulted feathers and not killing birds. They also do rehab on shot eagles.
  • nomadictaonomadictao Member Posts: 1,310 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If they are no longer an endangered species, what harm is there in letting a few be harvested? This seems to be more meaningful than most hunts, and the bird's death would not be in vain.
  • spryorspryor Member Posts: 9,155
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nomadictao
    If they are no longer an endangered species, what harm is there in letting a few be harvested? This seems to be more meaningful than most hunts, and the bird's death would not be in vain.


    And besides, they taste a lot like spotted owls.[;)]
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Eagles are still protected by the Eagle Act, endangered, threatened or not.
  • turtles11756turtles11756 Member Posts: 1,118 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    and hopefully thats where they will stay
  • DancesWithSheepDancesWithSheep Member Posts: 12,938 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My own religion involves a ceremony wherein an Arapaho is tied face down on the hood of a Buick and a bald eagle shoved up its *. I know there are laws against sodomy, even against Arapahos, but there are also laws about freedom of religion, and at last check Araphahos were not on any endangered species list. Frankly, I am sick and tired of government meddling in my religious freedom simply because the majority of the people who do not practice my religion have voted to infringe upon my rights. Therefore, I will disregard any such laws as suits my purpose and practice of religious freedom. Can I get a yah-tah-hay?
  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    YAH-TA-HAY.

    I hope they didn't waste the meat.

    Clouder..
  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    rules are....follow them or pay the price..if you can afford to drive 90 in a school zone go for it...don't look for sympathy after the fact
    like the guy who wants to be a poligamist because his religion alows it...or maybe within their sect sex with 10 year old boys is ok....screw your religious freedom and the indians can bite me. I don't think God wants his name used to bend alter boys over the back pew and he doesn't want it used to reenact cave dweller fantasys of a better life in the happy hunting grounds. If he did we would allow lsd crazed pot smoking pedifiles to live harmoniously in west texas towns while they force feed arsnic laced grape koolaid to underage virgins in a fertility ritual that culminates with the sacrefice of every first born male child with brown hair and homosexual tendancies....
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yah-et-Ay

    You smoke some eagle some before you stuff that eagle? I'm out, but I could send you some deer smoke...
  • AlbertLumAlbertLum Member Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    most liberals want federal law to ban ANYTHING religious. if the federal government allows a bald eagle to be killed for a religious celebration wouldnt that be "endorsing a religion" ? clear violation of seperation of church and state
  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by AlbertLum
    most liberals want federal law to ban ANYTHING religious. if the federal government allows a bald eagle to be killed for a religious celebration wouldnt that be "endorsing a religion" ? clear violation of seperation of church and state

    separation of church and state is a two way street. while government should not endorse a religious practice niether should it restrict the right to practice as you wish...laws are an aside. laws ment to protect species, property rights, protection from hatred, should not be violated in the persuit of a persons religion or lack there of
  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No buffalo to hunt, no tribe to lead..
    What do they do for fun?

    Go Go Gophers watch 'em go go go!
  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    Screw those Indians and their "special" rights. They claim to be sovereign nations but they always have their hands out for ol' white eyes' money.
  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Lowrider
    Screw those Indians and their "special" rights. They claim to be sovereign nations but they always have their hands out for ol' white eyes' money.

    you get to the demming casino much?
  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    Not at all. [:D]
  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,221 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    quote:jsergovic Posted
    What is the Federal Government doing, placing their laws on a Free Nation?
    Didn't we screw them enough?

    X-RING!!
  • DancesWithSheepDancesWithSheep Member Posts: 12,938 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by MT357
    quote:jsergovic Posted
    What is the Federal Government doing, placing their laws on a Free Nation?
    Didn't we screw them enough?

    X-RING!!

    Unfortunately, and like the wild mustang, the range of eagles is not limited to Wampum City and free indian nations; when either animal is killed while on indian land, for whatever reason, the surrounding nation is affected, and this not any less than an indian nation would be affected if the surrounding nation dumped garbage on the tribal council lawn. I think this has always been the problem with "free indian nations": myopia and selfishness. Instead of watching only Wes Studi movies and blowing away any eagles that happen to fly by, maybe indians should curb their religion and stick to building bigger tax-exempt casinos.
  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Maybe Indians ought to get over themselves and assimilate. They are about as sovereign as Puerto Rico.

    Clouder..
  • AlbertLumAlbertLum Member Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    anyone ever been to new mexico ? those indians down there are the most sorry bunch of people i have ever seen, they make ghetto blacks look like royalty. its sad really.
  • dolfandolfan Member Posts: 4,159
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by AlbertLum
    anyone ever been to new mexico ? those indians down there are the most sorry bunch of people i have ever seen, they make ghetto blacks look like royalty. its sad really.
    Blame this on the White Man. Drug abuse, alchoholism, unemployment, suicides are the norm for the Native Americans unlucky enough NOT to have have built a casino. It is a sad statement about our country.

    As other members posted, we have screwed them enough.
    Not all, but many tribes have used eagle feathers and other misc. animal parts for religious ceromonies eons before the White Man stole their land. I see no problem in letting them continue to follow their religious ceromonies on their land.
  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    "Blame this on the White Man."

    Sure. Why not? All the ills of the world are the fault of the white Anglo-Saxon male.
  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There's plenty of eagles in Alaska. On Adak they were eating out of the dumpster behind the galley. I thought one was going to attack me because I walked too close to it and his ham bone. Pretty buzzards.
  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    Maybe Benjamin Franklin had a better idea.
  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
    There's plenty of eagles in Alaska. On Adak they were eating out of the dumpster behind the galley. I thought one was going to attack me because I walked too close to it and his ham bone. Pretty buzzards.

    I actually have a picture of them doing just that...if I can find it I will post it.....it's from dutch harbor
  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by aglore
    Maybe Benjamin Franklin had a better idea.


    Now you're talkin' turkey.

    Clouder..
  • Yasser ArafatYasser Arafat Member Posts: 172 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Being a member of the Slap-a-ho tribe, I think that hunting eagles is just plain stupid. Hard to shoot moving birds when you're bombed on firewater[:o)]
  • CrittergitterCrittergitter Member Posts: 2,554 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by aglore
    Maybe Benjamin Franklin had a better idea.


    Then the wild turkey would be protected because of it's "national bird status."

    They'd do the same with the starling.
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