NJ Gov. Ignores Property Rights and Reality, Signs Draconian Ivory Ban Into Law

[Critter]

Knife Rights was shocked and saddened that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie bought into the irrational emotional pleas and outright lies of the radical ivory banners and signed into law the nation's most draconian ivory ban, ignoring New Jersey's constitutionally protected personal property rights. This ban will cost New Jersey citizens millions of dollars, seriously hamper many from making a living, adversely affect everyone from gun and knife collectors to musicians and antique collectors and will not save a single elephant in Africa. Many veterans and elderly who have invested in perfectly legal items containing ivory that have been in this country for decades will lose their investments. Some will sell at fire sale prices during the six-month grace period, but most will never even hear about the ban until down the road when they try to sell to cover medical expenses or some other emergency.

The New Jersey law bans "import, sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell" ivory from any species, including fossil ivory from mastodons and mammoths extinct for 10,000 years, and has no exceptions whatsoever. It will go into effect in six months, during which time anyone who owns antiques, musical instruments, guns, knives, canes, chess sets, art or anything else that contains even the smallest amount of ivory can liquidate it. And, we expect that "liquidate" will be the operative word, for those few who actually are paying attention. Once the law goes into effect, no one can buy, sell or trade ivory in New Jersey or "possess with the intent to sell," an extremely vague phrase subject to abuse by authorities. Penalties include a fine of $1000 or double the value of the ivory for a first offense, and $5000 or double the value of the ivory for subsequent offenses. Which begs the question, if it's illegal to sell, does it actually have any value?

Governor Christie, who has been touted as a potential Republican presidential candidate, should have stuck with those who really have the best interests of the elephants at heart and vetoed this absurd draconian ban and instead supported proven effective science and enforcement based approaches to eliminating poaching in Africa. In signing this bill, he's demonstrated that he's more interested in securing support from the radical extremists on the other side of the aisle than in preserving his constituents' property rights.

Read Knife Rights' original letter to Governor Christie here: www.KnifeRights.org/Gov_Christie_NJ_Ivory_Ban_06192014_Final.pdf

If anyone is inclined to let the Governor know how they feel about this travesty, his contacts are below.

Email Governor Christie at: Constituent.Relations@gov.state.nj.us
Call the Governor at: 609-292-6000

Knife Rights continues to fight the Federal Ivory Ban. Read more about that fight here: http://www.kniferights.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256

 

[Gehazi]

seems like I need to get some money together and go to NJ and try to invest in some ivory ?

 

[Quiet]

It is regrettable that the Governor would sign into a law an unConstitutional act. I must say though, that letter was so full of vague hyperbole statements and appeals to emotion, that it won't surprise me in the least if it's roundfiled after a brief lookover. A shame.

 

[Gehazi]

what really baffles me is that our ivory ban excludes hunting trophies but not 100 year old antiques ?

 

[Critter]

seems like I need to get some money together and go to NJ and try to invest in some ivory ?

It's only an investment if you or your heirs can someday sell it. If you do that, you might want to set aside a bit of that money to donate to Knife Rights to help fight the Federal Ivory Ban. Otherwise, no ivory in the U.S. may be safe. That fight is a long way from over.

Donate here: www.KnifeRights.org/donate

 

[Charlie_K]

Don't wait, get a lawsuit going to challenge the law, or get a restraining order against its enforcement, or something. We know where Christie lays, now let's see what the courts say.

 

[Elefantener]

This law defies the laws of nature; this is nothing below theft from a tyrannical government. "To instance in the case of murder: this is expressly forbidden by the divine, and demonstrably by the natural law; and from these prohibitions arises the true unlawfulness of this crime. Those human laws that annex a punishment to it do not at all increase its moral guilt, or add any fresh obligation in foro conscientiae (in the court of conscience) to abstain from its perpetration. Nay, if any human law should allow or enjoin us to commit it, we, are bound to transgress that human law, or else we must offend both the natural and the divine." ~ William Blackstone

 

[Critter]

Don't wait, get a lawsuit going to challenge the law, or get a restraining order against its enforcement, or something. We know where Christie lays, now let's see what the courts say.

Lot easier to write, than do. Got a spare couple hundred thousand dollars laying around...just to get started...? And, NJ Supreme Court is highly partisan, so not like it's even close to good odds.

Certainly something we and our associates are all looking at, but there are lots of hurdles, even besides the money.

 

[RevDevil]

Say news indeed, but unfortunately not surprising in the least. The next election is coming soon and common sense gives way to the currency of votes.
Thank you Mr. Ritter and your colleagues for all the hard work that you do. Wr truly appreciate your willingness to help secure our right and freedom to use, own, collect, and carry our cutting tools keep up your good work.

 

[leghog]

The New Jersey law bans all ivory from any species, including fossil ivory from mastodons and mammoths extinct for 10,000 years, and has no exceptions whatsoever.

That's a bit inaccurate. Let's at least be totally honest, whether you agree or disagree with the legislation. The law does not ban ivory legally possessed today. The law bans " importing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, bartering, or possessing with intent to sell".

 

[Charlie_K]

That's a bit inaccurate. Let's at least be totally honest, whether you agree or disagree with the legislation. The law does not ban ivory legally possessed today. The law bans " importing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, bartering, or possessing with intent to sell".

And how's that any different from what Critter said? "Possession with intent to sell" will be defined by the newly created ivory cops to make sure the ban is enforced.

 

[Cajun Kamikaze]

It's to be expected. All politicians weather Rep, Dem, Soc, whatever they are all the same. PiecesOfShite....

 

[Gehazi]

the federal law is not draconian at all save for the fact that it allows the trophy hunting loophole-- we are still allowed to freely trade and sell 100+ year old antiques with CITES paperwork, as long as they are already in the USA--- of which there are an incredible amount of artifacts because the USA has had so much money for so long-- you are not totally deprived by this ban.

elephants in the end are far more important than our "treasures", I have several ivory including antiques, if they get banned I will simply pass them down, just like with endangered species taxidermy, you cant sell it but you can keep an heirloom.

 

[Cajun Kamikaze]

the federal law is not draconian at all save for the fact that it allows the trophy hunting loophole-- we are still allowed to freely trade and sell 100+ year old antiques with CITES paperwork, as long as they are already in the USA--- of which there are an incredible amount of artifacts because the USA has had so much money for so long-- you are not totally deprived by this ban.

elephants in the end are far more important than our "treasures", I have several ivory including antiques, if they get banned I will simply pass them down, just like with endangered species taxidermy, you cant sell it but you can keep an heirloom.

Maybe, just maybe, the problem is in controlling the poachers with all the corruption in Africa and failed programs. Pretty sure the ban in NJ isn't even going to put a dent in that issue. The problem is the same, instead of attacking the issue, Here in America they play games to gain a certain percentage of support from specific groups who don't really understand the problems. There are no Elephants in America, therefore, it's not our problem to solve.... Sounds harsh but most of the time, the TRUTH is...

 

[leghog]

The New Jersey law bans all ivory from any species, including fossil ivory from mastodons and mammoths extinct for 10,000 years, and has no exceptions whatsoever.

That's a bit inaccurate. Let's at least be totally honest, whether you agree or disagree with the legislation. The law does not ban ivory legally possessed today. The law bans " importing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, bartering, or possessing with intent to sell".

And how's that any different from what Critter said? "Possession with intent to sell" will be defined by the newly created ivory cops to make sure the ban is enforced.

Ivory in NJ is not banned. The business of dealing in ivory in NJ is what is banned.

Critter has since edited the thread opener (and good on him for that) ----

from: "The New Jersey law bans all ivory from any species, including fossil ivory from mastodons and mammoths extinct for 10,000 years, and has no exceptions whatsoever."

to: "The New Jersey law bans "import, sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell" ivory from any species, including fossil ivory from mastodons and mammoths extinct for 10,000 years, and has no exceptions whatsoever."

 

[Critter]

That's a bit inaccurate. Let's at least be totally honest, whether you agree or disagree with the legislation. The law does not ban ivory legally possessed today. The law bans " importing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, bartering, or possessing with intent to sell".

While I believe the post was very clear about what the ban covers, and that it is not clearly a confiscation law (albeit there is little doubt that it is only a matter of time before it is used as such, sure as the sun comes up every morning), I have clarified the description so there is no doubt.

 

[Critter]

the federal law is not draconian at all save for the fact that it allows the trophy hunting loophole-- we are still allowed to freely trade and sell 100+ year old antiques with CITES paperwork, as long as they are already in the USA--- of which there are an incredible amount of artifacts because the USA has had so much money for so long-- you are not totally deprived by this ban.

elephants in the end are far more important than our "treasures", I have several ivory including antiques, if they get banned I will simply pass them down, just like with endangered species taxidermy, you cant sell it but you can keep an heirloom.

Unfortunately, that's not really a fully accurate description of the actual reality of the Federal Ban. I'd suggest those who want the full story and how it would, indeed, likely adversely affect the vast majority of legal ivory owners in the U.S. to check out the links on Knife Rights: http://www.kniferights.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256

 

[leghog]

While I believe the post was very clear about what the ban covers, and that it is not clearly a confiscation law (albeit there is little doubt that it is only a matter of time before it is used as such, sure as the sun comes up every morning), I have clarified the description so there is no doubt.

There is plenty of doubt this law will be used to ban possession and/or confiscate ivory legally owned today.

 

[Critter]

There is plenty of doubt this law will be used to ban possession and/or confiscate legally owned ivory.

Perhaps in your mind, but not to all of us who have far too much experience with New Jersey's many years of interpreting and expanding laws to further political agendas at the expense of citizen's rights.

 

[Cajun Kamikaze]

while i believe the post was very clear about what the ban covers, and that it is not clearly a confiscation law (albeit there is little doubt that it is only a matter of time before it is used as such, sure as the sun comes up every morning), i have clarified the description so there is no doubt.

that's right