Along with many other Americans I have recently been awakened to become more involve in our democracy, but I see that our democracy has been effectively stifled by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife committee in the Legislature.

L.D. 1265, An Act to Control the Means of Killing Coyotes, was the result of more than a year’s efforts of the Maine people who want to mitigate the violence in the killing of coyotes here in Maine. This is because the killing of coyotes has turned into a free for all, a blood bath for our wild native dogs.

The bill sponsored by Sen. David Miramant called for an end to baiting, hounding and night hunting of coyotes. Many other legislators were very interested in seeing this bill through.

At the public hearing on May 3 over 30 Maine people gave oral testimony and over 70 people gave written testimony in support of the bill. Yet it died a swift death in the work session two days later without much discussion.

I recognize where Democracy is not working. It is not working at the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee of Maine’s Legislature. That bill died faster than some coyotes because there was no open door there for people to share in the process of democratic discourse. There was no place for the voices of the Maine people to be heard.

The last I checked, I think we still do live in a democracy, and that means that all voices should have a chance to be heard.

 

Elizabeth Starr

Bath

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