From Dave Orr

Dear friends. I received an email from Gary Payne, CFA asking for help to defeat a bill being introduced in Connecticut. The need to act is this weekend. I am sending you copies of emails I have written to state senators and to state representatives. I urge you to cut and paste my messages, changing my name to yours and sending messages to the members of the Connecticut General Assembly, Joint Committee on the Environment. I hope you will help. This is important. You know the Animal Rights people get out the letters, let's get circus performers, fans, historians and everyone interested in this form of entertainment to send emails. For background purposes, I have pasted Gary Payne's message. If you have already sent an email, thank you. If not I would appreciate your help. Thank you and may all your days be circus days. John Goodall P. S. I canceled a golf game to get this out to you. I am a two fingered typist and it takes me time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 1, 2007 Connecticut House Bill 6599 An Act Concerning Captive Elephants HB 6599 (introduced by Rep. Diana Urban) states that it will amend the state's general statutes "to provide minimum standards of care of captive elephants in order to eliminate mistreatment of such captive elephants." However, the intention of this legislation is to prevent circuses with elephants from visiting the state by banning the tools used to train and handle elephants. HB 6599 has been referred to the Joint Environment Committee of the Connecticut state legislature, and a public hearing was held February 21, 2007. It is crucial that members of this Committee hear from circus supporters on this matter before they take a vote, which could happen before March 23. For your reference, the contact information for the Committee members is on the next page. As Circus Fans in Connecticut, here’s what you can do: 1 Look at the list of Committee members on the next page – are any of the members from your area of the state? If so, please contact them directly with a phone call. 2 E-mails or letters can be sent to each Committee member, regardless of whether you reside in their district. The following talking points will help in your phone calls, e-mails, and/or letters, but use your own words as much as possible: 3 By banning legitimate elephant tools, HB 6599 would prevent circuses with elephants from visiting the state of Connecticut. Respectfully ask the legislator to vote against this bill. 4 State-specific standards for elephants are not necessary because the circus industry (and all elephant handlers) are already highly regulated and inspected by the federal government through the U.S. Department by Agriculture (USDA). 5 The use of guides, or “bullhooks,” is a proven and humane management practice accepted by the USDA and is commonly used by elephant handlers in zoos, preserves and circuses throughout the world. The bullhook is similar in design and use to a show stick used for cattle. 6 Animal rights activists are pushing this legislation as a way to ban circuses – urge your legislator to get information from true animal experts about the proper and safe use of elephant training tools, not animal rights groups whose agenda is to ban performing animals entirely. 7 Speak to your own experiences as a Circus Fan – the condition of the animals you have seen, your experiences with meeting animal trainers, the reaction of the audience when they see performing animals, etc. Send this information to friends and family members in Connecticut so they can contact the Committee members as well. These legislators are being inundated with letters from animal rights activists, so they need to know there are Connecticut voters who want to be able to see elephants in their state. If you talk to a legislator in person, or if you get a response to your e-mail or letter, please contact Gary Payne to let him know how the legislator plans to vote on this issue. Thank you for your support of elephants in circuses! Connecticut General Assembly Joint Committee on the Environment http://www.cga.ct.gov/env/ Mailing address (for all