From: David Warther [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 2:22 PM
To: 'David Warther'
Subject: Ivory ban and Ivory


Dear Everyone,

The Federal Government is working on a multi-phase program to make the interstate sale of pre-ban (pre-1990) illegal. They are doing this work thru US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) regulations. Regulations are made by agencies whereas laws are made by Congress but regulations are enforced as if they are law.

One of the phases of their plan was a regulation recently put into place that will become effective June 26th. This particular phase of their plan is primarily about rules for new ivory coming into the US now from big game hunting. A part of this regulation needs clarity and we do not have that clarity yet. Since my plan is to sell legal ivory until it is no longer legal to do so I currently plan on ceasing shipments/sales after June 20th unless we have clarity by then on an aspect of this regulation that affects pre-ban ivory. We will resume sales after we are clear it is legal to do so. The regulation phase specifically addressing pre-ban ivory will come at a later date and that is the one that clearly will make pre-ban ivory illegal to sell across state lines should it be adopted.

Many people are fighting this new wave of regulations that address old pre-act ivory in the hands of honest Americans. I encourage interested individuals to call, email or write to their Congressman and Senators as soon as possible. Your voices count ! Below my signature in this email is a sample letter you can use when contacting your elected reps. There is no bill number because this is a series of regulations, not a bill. The most important thing we can do now is reach out to our reps and ask them to implement a " Time Out " on Fish & Wildlife (see letter below). Important lobbying groups are working with them now to make them aware what USFWS is doing via regulation and these reps need to hear from you so they know for sure that others besides lobbyists are concerned. We are simply trying to get Congress to intervene the regulatory process so a hearing can be held where the voice of people like you and I can be heard on this important topic.

Lastly, we have been very busy since December with orders from everyone. Folks want to get ivory into their state before interstate commerce becomes illegal - if USFWS wins this battle. As mentioned, until I obtain clarification on an aspect of this new regulation I will not be shipping ivory after 20 June so place your orders soon.

Sincerely ,

David Warther

330-343-1865

Guitar Parts - Ivory | Bone Nuts, Saddles, Bridge and Pins

Here is the sample letter :

Dear Congressman/Senator _______________:

I, like all Americans, find the out-of-control poaching of African elephants appalling. Unfortunately, instead of going after poachers, smugglers and traders of illicit ivory, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has begun to introduce a series of regulations that will result in making it illegal to sell pre-ban ivory, in any form, in the United States. This misguided effort will harm many Americans but will not save one elephant.

A Domestic Ivory Ban would irreparably harm owners of antiques, musical instruments and any items containing ivory legally imported into this country decades ago by stripping their value - a taking of BILLIONS of dollars from law-abiding Americans. The ban would criminalize legitimate business owners & job-creators and cause immediate financial loss to many Americans who own antique and pre-act ivory items. Jobs as simple as piano moving will be affected because pianos with ivory key tops will not be allowed to sell or transport across state lines.

The proposed ban would punish me by ( insert your story here) …

Adding insult to injury, the ban goes against USFWS's longstanding position that almost all ivory in the US was legally imported before elephants were listed as endangered species and its sale in the US has no impact on poaching in Africa. Now their position is that Americans who have traded legal ivory need to be punished to set an example for people in China whom everyone agrees are the overwhelming buyers of illicit ivory.

We need a "Time Out" in this broken, runaway process so the views and concerns of legitimate businesses and innocent ivory owners can be considered in a policy that actually stops elephant poaching. As one of your constituents I request that you consider supporting an appropriations provision that would essentially freeze in place ivory regulations as they were on February 1, 2014. I hope that the administration will consider the negative effects the proposed ban would have on law-abiding ivory owners, like myself, and instead would take constructive steps towards stopping poaching and the illicit trade of ivory.

Sincerely,

your name

Thanks for the update.



Patrick

This is very important, and it has nothing to do with availability of fancy gun grips.

The government has decided to shutter an entire industry simply because they don't like it. And because it would never pass as a law, they are using regulations to subvert the will of the people. What's more, the people who work in ivory are artists, craftsman, and self-employed folks who have turned their passion into a business. Why should their often lifelong livelihoods be erased at someone's whim? They aren't killing elephants - they are creating treasured artifacts!

In my opinion, this is a major infringement on our rights and I urge everyone to take the time and send a letter. This is going to affect tons of people in the gun industry. Save their careers!

My response to the upcoming ivory ban.
We are now displaying my wife's ivory beads in the leaded glass on the mahogany table:

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

How did you make the beads?b

__________________
Dick Burg

Purchased long ago as necklace

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I hope everyone sends a letter in to their Senators and Congressman. I would strongly suggest that no mention of ivory grips on handguns be mentioned. Your letter could be dismissed as coming from a George Patton-wannabe. Focus instead on art objects and musical instruments. In my case, my mother's table. Back in the late 1950s my father brought back a small table with ivory inlays from India for my mother. I still have that table, but it is impossible for me to document that it was "legally acquired". The table is guilty until proven innocent.