Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Senate Bill 175 - Game Wardens to be shifted out of DCNR to Public Safety

I have been told that Outdoor Alabama is a 4 billion dollar a year industry. The way DCNR is currently constituted played a role in that. I think the proofs in the pudding out there in the woods and on the water. Is it perfect, probably not. Why would you tinker with something that hasn't proven to be completely broken. Someone tell me how GWS making more money and having more promotional oppurtunites maybe, is the best thing for the resource and the people who enjoy and utilize that resource and I will be in full support of it. Im not against GWS making more money, Im for whatever is best for Outdoor Alabama.

Politics and money.

If the consolidation of the various departments could save the state enough money, there might be money saved that would the be available for more wages and benefits.

It's my hope that the split would leave the DCNR to concentrate on administration instead of enforcement.

My reservations are that the consolidation will turn into an agency with enough power to equal a standing army.

Enforcement agencies seem to be focusing more and more on growing into armies than remaining in the form of the traditional domestic enforcement agencies we've always known.

Recent tornado disasters in my community have given me a wake up call about what it would be like to live under marshal law. That's not a road I would like for us to go down.

How does taking 120 -150 people who are not currently being paid for out of the broke general fund and putting them in a Dept funded by the general fund save money.

They'll probably qualify for federal funds just like they are now in the DCNR.

Instead of Pittman-Robertson money from the feds, it will probably qualify them for more homeland insecurity money from the feds. They've got lots of money they need to spend. Homeland insecurity is the going thing now.

Federal money is free since it don't come out of the general fund. Haven't you heard?

I think the key word is probably, and ALEA doesn't need GWs to qualify for Homeland security money, True more people would probably mean more money. Accounting wise wouldn't that be just apples and oranges, By having more people and getting bigger check not a net plus because you have added more people. Im just pointing what I think its obvious, This effort to move GWs is not about saving money, not about addressing the issues that concern hunters or even about public safety. It appears to be a power grab. And the 74% of Gws who voted for, The Hunters concerned about those issues and all other people are being used as pawns by the power players behind the scenes. Is that whats best for Alabama. I don't know.

[quote=49er]If the consolidation of the various departments could save the state enough money, there might be money saved that would the be available for more wages and benefits.

It's my hope that the split would leave the DCNR to concentrate on administration instead of enforcement.[49er]

The reason some GWs would like to move to ALEA is they feel like the current administration and former admins haven't supported aggressive enforcement efforts.They feel this will be supported and encouraged in ALEA. Aggressive conservation enforcement.

Wow, not that I know them all but I haven't found 1 that was pro-DPS move. Interesting...

You would think that if 74% was truly accurate you would be able to find one.

Look ,fellers. Im not trying to influence folks one way or another,though right now Im opposed to SB175. This is one of those things that will alter hunting and fishing forever, I promise you, Ivestigate this thing, decide whether you support or oppose and let your voices be heard. You can ask Troy if SB175 passes it will affect the hunters and fishermen and outdoorsmen more than GWs. Yor DCNR will never be the same again and more than likely your outdoor experience will never be same again. You just have to decide if you think it will be better or worse. I promise gamecheck is a teardrop in waterfall compared to how this is going to change things.

Change is due, IMHO.

We have far too many unnecessary rules, a lot of them in the form of gun control and unreasonable search and seizure, that the enforcement people have crammed into our regulations that were only authorized for the purpose of protecting of our wildlife.

I'm tired of them infringing on our rights in violation of the constitutions they swore to support.

Mr 49er. In my humble opinion, This bill will accomplish the exact opposite of what you think, you just don't realize how much the DCNR leadership has kept folks backed off of you. You really need to investigate further. I promise you, Im not blowing smoke, your experience will be the exact opposite of what you assume its going to be Don't take my word on it. Ask around, don't make assumptions, It will not result in what you think, but like I said ask around,Please don't make snap judgement and assumptions.

sgtred..word...don't argue with a rock.

Explain how removing the enforcement division from the DCNR will increase rules implemented for enforcement purposes.

Those people will be under the DPS. The DPS does not write hunting and fishing rules and regulations.

Mr 49er, the only way you can stop new conservation rules from being implemented and enforced, is to remove commissioner,advisory board etc, which SB175 does not do. They will still exist and still retain their rulemaking authority,as unconstitutional as you you think it is, DCNR will still promulgate rules and they will still be enforced. You touched on a concern a few posts back. A whole new critter will be created. Your meeting with the committee will go much further in stopping rules than SB175

Im not arguing with him Bham Fred, He is entitled to his opinion,he just needs to educate himself further, and if does and still fells the same way,more power to him.

Like I said, Im just encouraging everyone to get involved for or against, Because this is going to dramatically change things for the hunter and fishermen and outdoorsman. I personally think whether QDM or anti QDM and rulemaking, neither will be pleased with the longterm results of this.Hey if your for it,Call up there and offer your support. Im just asking folks to educate themselves.

Dante said those who remain silent and still in times of a great crisis are doomed or something like that, Im out Goodluck to everyone.

I still don't understand how removing the enforcement people from the DCNR will make things worse. They've had a lot of influence on getting some of the worst rules we now have in place passed.

You are asking us to educate ourselves. Well, I have done that. I understand that the commissioner will still have rule making authority that is limited to only those rules that are necessary for conservation purposes.

For example: Do you think the rules restricting possession of firearms on OUR publicly owned lands came from the wildlife division or were they recommended by the enforcement division?

I think sgtred is alluding to the possibility of a guy who put out bait on a WMA getting the full jack boot team swat taser beat down as opposed to just getting a ticket from a single warden. If game laws are to be enforced by public safety then public safety is going to enforce things the way that they enforce things. A guy who shoots too many doves or has too many fish may get the same treatment as a bank robbing rapist kidnapper meth head.