Florida lawmaker says bill to loosen rules on killing bears is aimed at 'the ones that are on crack' [View all]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/05/florida-bears-crack-jason-shoaf?ref=upstract.com

Florida lawmaker says bill to loosen rules on killing bears is aimed at ‘the ones that are on crack’

No evidence backs up Jason Shoaf’s claims bears on crack are breaking into homes and opponents say bill will allow people to kill bears without threat

Richard Luscombe in Miami
@richlusc
Mon 5 Feb 2024 10.07 EST

A Florida lawmaker seeking looser regulations on the killing of wildlife has claimed that black bears high on crack are breaking into people’s homes and “tearing them apart”.

The allegation from Republican state congressman Jason Shoaf, whose biography reveals a passion for hunting, is bizarre even by the already unorthodox standards of Florida, which in recent times has boasted cocaine sharks and marauding herpes-ridden monkeys.

“We’re talking about the ones that are on crack, and they break your door down, and they’re standing in your living room growling and tearing your house apart,” Shoaf told a meeting of the Florida legislature’s house infrastructure strategies committee discussing his House Bill 87, which would remove most penalties for killing bears without authorization.

“When you run into one of these crack bears, you should be able to shoot it, period. And you shouldn’t have to pause or be afraid you’re gonna get arrested or harassed or pay fines. That’s just crazy.” The Guardian was unable to find a documented incident of any of Florida’s estimated population of 4,050 black bears having ingested crack, and Shoaf did not return a request for clarification. His colleagues, however, appeared swayed by his argument, and advanced the bill on party lines for a full house hearing.

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