To The Editor:

Mitch Bolinsky is perhaps the best informed of all the state representatives on the true nature of what the proposed bill banning the sale of ivory is really all about. Unquestionably, he supports all efforts to PREVENT elephant poaching and ivory smuggling. Perhaps more importantly, he also recognizes that the problem is NOT here in the USA or in Connecticut, and cannot be solved here by attempting to eliminate the legal sale of legally obtained ivory. To set the record straight, one only needs to do a bit more homework and look at the real numbers - a pound of ivory here in the USA commands a price of approximately $150 per pound; that same pound of ivory in Asia is valued at $1500 per pound - that is correct: ten times more going into countries that lack our federal enforcement agencies. So what does common sense tell you about where all the poached ivory is headed? Clearly, NOT here. This bill is yet another example of how a well intended proposal distorts the facts and ultimately would do little more than make "us" feel good . . . at the expense of others.

The enforcement of such proposed legislation is NOT free . . . California passed a similar bill and they promptly budget 1.7+ MILLION DOLLARS for establishing the necessary infrastructure to prosecute offenders. So here we are in Connecticut with our government scrambling to find the dollars to close a multi-million dollar budget gap . . . closing schools, issuing pay cuts, laying off state employees, and who knows what else . . . and now "animal activists" think that this proposed bit of legislation is THE answer - "their answer" - and who would be footing the cost of enforcement, which would mean hiring and training a staff of agents, complete with state vehicles, of course; a specialized attorney; setting up a forensic lab and hiring a trained technician(s) to distinguish elephant ivory from, walrus, hippo, and narwhal - not to mention 10,000 year old mammoth ivory tusk ? Oh, ah, yes . . . "we" would. . Let's explain this one to the people losing their jobs.

Voters in Newtown should call Mitch and thank him for having the wisdom to independently do his homework, sort through the disinformation and misinformation, examine the facts and NOT be taken in by those who throw around old and unsupported numbers that keep getting repeated in the hope that no one will question what is really going on. Mitch Bolinsky IS representing his constituents - he understands that it's the Federal Government that must deal with this issue. Only they have the power to solve it by working with the countries in Africa where the poaching is actually happening. If the Humane Society of the United States spent more of their time and money in Washington, DC (or Africa) arguing the case for the African elephant there, and less time here in Connecticut, perhaps something would have already been done.

Respectfully submitted,

Paul F. Drexler

Artist, pfd Studios

Marlborough, Conn.                          April 22, 2016