To The Editor:The Washington Post reported on the international trafficking of elephant ivory and documented that all 23 significant ivory seizures from 2009 to 2011 occurred in the traffic route running from Africa to Southeast Asia - none in the United States. An exhaustive 2013 study by Joseph Vandegrift, published in The Virginia Law Journal concluded the recent surge in poaching is due to increased demand in China, and that the trade of antiques in the United States is not a threat to elephants in Africa.

At first glance, House Bill 5578, An Act Prohibiting The Sale and Trade of Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn, would appear unassailable. Elephant poaching is decimating the species. Over 100,000 elephants have been slaughtered in the past three years alone. But will this bill slow the rate of poaching or save any elephants at all?

In 2013

Proponents have argued that the United States is the "second biggest market for illicit ivory," but fail to mention that this is due to recent federal regulations (enacted in 2014) that make millions of previously legal objects "illicit" because they don't carry USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Services) documentation or may be less than 100 years old. Americans are not buying poached ivory.

HB 5578 would simply duplicate existing strict federal regulations and goes further to stop the trade of a wide range of antiques including silver teapots, billiard tables, swords with ivory grips, miniature painted portraits, folk art, tea caddies, and even some furniture with tiny ivory inlays. Most astonishingly, they've added whalebone and teeth to the "definition" of ivory, which will halt the trade of a wide range of sailor-made art from the 18th and 19th centuries, including scrimshaw - just the kinds of things you would see at Mystic Seaport or The New Bedford Whaling Museum.

This bill equates ordinary citizens and antique collectors to ivory traffickers. Should you be caught buying or selling an object with ANY element of ivory or whalebone you will be subject to a minimum fine of $3,000 and possible jail time. There are allowances for antiques of less than 20 percent content if you have the required documentation; this all assumes that you know your object contains ivory or whalebone in the first place. If your family heirloom were more than 20 percent ivory or whalebone, you would not be permitted to sell it, regardless of age.

I am fighting HB 5578 because the evidence shows it won't stop poaching, but it will cost millions to enforce and prosecute "offenders." This law would impact thousands of Connecticut citizens directly, and all citizens indirectly, by drawing funds away from needed programs.

Mitch Bolinsky understands this is a federal issue and that this bill is deeply flawed. He's stood up against a very powerful lobby while others chose to stand safely on sidelines. Newtown is lucky to be represented by Mitch Bolinsky, a man of character who deserves our utmost admiration.

Jack DeStories

Fairfield Auction

707 Main Street, Monroe                                                 April 22, 2016