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African Penguin Receives Endangered Species Act Protection

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- African Penguin Receives Endangered Species Act Protection A species of penguin from Africa is now protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), following the publication of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) final listing determination in today’s Federal Register.

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), a species native to Namibia and South Africa, has been listed as endangered.

The determination comes after a thorough review of best available scientific information, comments from the general public and peer reviewers, and any new information received during the public comment period following publication of the proposed rule to list this species. This rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for this species.

The African penguin population has declined 60.5 percent in the past 28 years due to food base declines and competition for food with the fishing industry and Cape fur seals. The population decline has been severely exacerbated by rapid ecosystem changes at the northern end of the penguin’s distribution and by major shifts of prey resources to outside of the accessible foraging range of breeding penguins at the southern end of its distribution; habitat modification and destruction; predation; and oil spills. Climate change contributes to these threats through rising sea levels, increasing sea surface temperatures, declines in upwelling intensities, predicted increases in frequency and intensity of El Niño events in the Benguela marine ecosystem, and predicted increases in sulphide eruptions.

Granting foreign species protection under the Endangered Species Act means that the import or export of any of the species, or their parts or products, as well as their sale in interstate or foreign commerce, is prohibited. Take of listed species, which includes harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or to attempt any of these, within the U.S. is also prohibited. Permits for these prohibited actions may be issued for specific purposes consistent with the Endangered Species Act.

The final rule appeared in the September 28, 2010 Federal Register and will become effective on October 28, 2010. For more information visit the Service’s website at www.fws.gov/endangered.

About:
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

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Gun Voters Listen Up
By Jack Lee
President Pennsylvania Rifle & Pistol Association

Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association

Butler, PA --(Ammoland.com)- The coming election will be the most important election of my time and could be the most important election American history.

This past April saw the passage of Obamacare, the government health care program that placed over 50% of our GDP under government control. In addition, we find over 50% of the voting population does not pay income taxes.

With the entitlements now authorized, the increase in government jobs occurring during a time of high unemployment in the private sector, the increase in taxes that are scheduled to take effect in 2011 and the so called stimulus creating massive government spending.

This November’s election could well determine if this USA will continue as a Representative Republic under our Constitution or fully turn into a Socialist Democracy patterned after the European model. We are now well on the road to becoming that model, considering what has happened to Capitalism in the past 18 months.

But that’s not all that we must face this Fall.

On your computer and bring up 2A Unfriendly Senate Committee to Address Firearms. (Editors Note: this meeting is now on hold)

This is the beginning of the Obama administration setting the stage for a lame duck session to attack gun ownership and the Second Amendment by proposing the largest package of anti-gun legislation ever considered. Warnings have been circulating for the past several months and each time the warnings get more serious about what will be proposed.

Gun owners can sit around and do nothing or we can (NO, We MUST) get out and do something about what is happening. Remember, not only do we have to defeat the present majority in the House and Senate in November, we must also prevent the Administration and Congress from passing any proposed anti-gun legislation during the lame duck session from November to the end of the 2010 Session.

THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY THAT I CAN REMEMBER!

What happens in the next 3 months can spell the difference between the freedoms we have known from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and some sort of serfdom we could expect under a so-called Socialist Democracy. IT’S UP TO US!

About:
Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association: Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Article I, Section 21, “The right of the citi-zens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.” We uphold, promote and support the right to keep and bear arms. Visit: www.pennarifleandpistol.org
Jack Lee

Filed under: Gun Rights News by Ammoland 7 Comments »