Postal Service Anti-Dove Hunting Stamps

[LifeNRA]

August 15, 2006

USSA Files Complaint with Postal Service Regarding

Anti-Dove Hunting Stamps

(Columbus) - The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance has filed a complaint with the U.S. Postmaster General in regards to the sale of postage stamps which support and raise money for an initiative to ban dove hunting in Michigan.

The organization is exploring whether or not is will pursue legal action in the matter.

The stamps which were available for purchase at www.zazzle.com/JoyceJanicki since March, have been removed from the website.

Each of the nine stamps featured images of mourning doves and the slogan “Protect Michigan Mourning Doves

According to a posting that appeared until today on the Zazzle website, “Any profit gained from the sale of these stamps will go towards protecting Michigan's ‘Official Bird of Peace’ the Mourning Dove.” It is not known how much money the sale of the stamps may have raised to support the dove hunting ban.

In November of this year, Michigan citizens will vote on whether or not to continue dove hunting in their state.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the leading contributor to the Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban, the organization which spearheaded the movement to have the dove hunting ban placed on the November ballot and to which the creator of the offensive stamps belongs.

Sale of customized postage stamps, which may feature everything from baby photos to advertising, began earlier this year after Congress amended an 1872 law that forbade advertisements on U.S. currency, including postage stamps. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) began a one year trial program allowing Zazzle and two other companies to sell the customized stamps.

In April, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) alerted sportsmen about this program when it was discovered that the HSUS was profiting from the sale of postage stamps featuring anti-animal use rhetoric.

The USSA was alerted to the Michigan dove issue stamps by members of the Washington State Bowhunters Association.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

[popgun]

Re: Postal Service Anti-Dove Hunting Stamps

During this trial period you can also have stamps printed with pro-hunting stuff if you are willing to pay $17.99 for each pane of 20 stamps.

That's only $ .89 each.

Are you willing to pay $ .50 above the going rate for a postage stamp?

Anyone can advertise their own agenda, but I wouldn't use any NRA logo's without their permission.

....popgun