News

Wishy-Washy Governor, Stop Punting

Published May 3, 2004. Editorial. The Daily Press and Argus.
Governor needs to make up her mind

Gov. Jennifer Granholm needs to stop passing the political buck when it comes to deciding whether mourning doves can be hunted in Michigan.

The issue has been a political football for years, and the governor keeps punting it. At issue is whether mourning doves should be added to the list of game birds in the state. Those who support dove hunting point out that it's legal in 39 other states and that it'll provide an economic shot in the arm for Michigan.

Those who oppose it - including this newspaper - say it's simply not necessary to put another animal in the sights of hunters.

After pledging early on to veto any dove-hunting legislation, Granholm has become very wishy-washy on the issue. We feel she needs to make up her mind.

Earlier this year, she said she'd only support dove hunting if it was approved by the voters. This hardly seems like a referendum issue; isn't this why we elected her?

The latest shuffle has the governor suggesting that we do a trial hunt in Michigan; that we allow dove hunting in some southern counties for three years, and then assess what impact it has on dove populations.

We don't need to do a study. Dove hunting is legal in 39 other states, so all you need to do is look at how it's gone in those states.

In our opinion, we don't need dove hunting in Michigan. What we do need is a governor who can provide some leadership on the issue.

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