Letters to the Editor
Anchorage Daily News
October 6, 2007
by Barbara Reilly

Legislation introduced in Congress on Sept. 25, the Protect America's Wildlife Act, would firmly establish Alaskans' views on wolf control as federal law. It would support what a majority of Alaskans has voted for (twice!) in ballot initiatives in 1996 and 2000: that wolf control from airplanes is acceptable only when there is sound scientific justification, and when it is conducted using professional wildlife management personnel.

Some may cry, "States' rights!" in response to this federal legislation, but the issue is more basic than that. It's about citizens' rights. Gov. Sarah Palin should heed public opinion: The current program is not scientifically sound, and is de facto aerial hunting -- which was supposed to be prohibited by the 1972 federal Airborne Hunting Act. The new Protect America's Wildlife Act would make this clear. It's worthy of our support.