Letters to the Editor published in the Oct. 20, 2021 issue of the Tomahawk Leader.
Felzkowski should address things that matter to constituents
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, but that’s not reflected in some of the legislative proposals from our local representative.
Senator Mary Felzkowski is proposing a bill that would eliminate a license requirement for concealed carry weapons. Is the requirement of a five-year license ($40 fee), that applicants , who are not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or court order, complete a firearms training session too much? Is Senator Felzkowski okay with having unstable characters carrying concealed weapons out in public?
Should we forget the victims of firearm domestic violence, or the fact that law enforcement officers increasingly encounter armed individuals? More weapons are involved in violent confrontations over everyday conflicts. We do not need unlicensed crackpots carrying concealed lethal weapons.
Senator Felzkowski bemoans Governor Tony Evers performance, but at least Governor Evers is actually doing something to prevent violence. He is directing $45 million toward violence prevention and victim support out of the $2.5 billion American Rescue Plan Act allocated to the state. In contrast, Senator Felzkowski is proposing a hunting season on sandhill cranes.
The wolf hunt is a favorite of Senator Felzkowski. Her statement that “Northern Wisconsin was terrorized by wolves for too long…” is blatant fear mongering and just not true.
The DNR’s web site on wolf depredation is very informative. Wolves do exit and they occasionally harass and sometimes kill pets and livestock. The most impacted areas of the state are up in Bayfield and Douglas counties.
DNR statistics, from January 2021 – September 25, 2021 list: one pet dog as injured by a wolf in each of Lincoln and Vilas Counties; one pet dog was harassed by a wolf in Oneida County, and one hunting dog was killed by a wolf in Price County. Statewide, there were 17 dogs (majority hunting hounds) killed and two injured by wolves in that time period. The state financially compensates livestock and pet owners for verified losses.
It would be good to remember that there are approximately 5.9 million residents of the state. Of that number, thousands are legitimate hunters, but far fewer are wolf hunters/trappers. The wildlife in the state are part of the state’s resources. They are there for everyone, not just for a miniscule proportion of the population to plunder.
The last open season on wolves was a disaster. Reported kills, (illegal kills go unreported), were more than twice the permitted take. Wolf hunters repeatedly prove they cannot be trusted.
Senator Felzkowski should address the things that actually matter to her constituents instead of catering to the tiniest vocal minority. What matters are the expansion of Medicaid, intrastate transportation, broadband services, programs for the elderly and special needs residents, childcare, and expanding the number of living-wage jobs. No more Republican debacles like Foxconn!
Now there’s more nonsense from fellow Republican, Calvin Callahan. He is proposing that every new DNR sporting regulation requires removal of three current regs. How would that work?!?
Diana C. Smith
Tomahawk