WHO: Jim Beers, former Chief of National Wildlife Refuge Operations
WHAT: Public presentation on fraud and deceit employed in the dangerous wolf “reintroduction” program
WHEN: Sunday, May 16, 2010
WHERE: Gran Tree Inn in Bozeman, Montana

Jim Beers, former Chief of National Wildlife Refuge Operations, will address the lies, deceit and fraud employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state wildlife agencies in Montana and Idaho and environmental groups to illegally introduce Canadian wolves where they were never native, nor endangered.

His presentation begins at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, 2010, at the Gran Tree Inn in Bozeman, Montana.   Admission is free.

 ”This is the first time I have spoken exclusively on this subject of all the violations of law committed by government bureaucrats, non-governmental organizations, Washington lobbyists and political appointees who introduced and spread wolves in the West,” states Jim Beers, who worked in various capacities with USFWS for 32 years.

He is probably best known for his role in exposing the USFWS theft of up to $60 million from funds collected as excise taxes on sporting firearms, ammunition and fishing tackle.  This money is to be distributed back to state wildlife agencies for habitat improvement and to provide greater outdoor opportunities for sportsmen.  (In 2009, the amount divided nationwide totaled more than $700 million.)  The millions embezzled by USFWS went into a slush fund used for agency appointee bonuses and for other unauthorized purposes.  Beers claims one of those purposes was to provide illegal funding for reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone – funding Congress refused to provide. 

Other wolf introduction issues he will address include the improper and illegal manner in which federal and state wildlife agencies justified wolf introduction, the false claims made by these agencies and how the legal intervention by environmental organizations, such as the Defenders of Wildlife, is very much to blame for the dramatic drop in elk, deer and other big game numbers. 

There will be an hour long question and comment period following the presentation, followed by an hour long reception. 

This presentation is wholly sponsored by Friends of the Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd.  Its purpose is to unify those who have been harmed by the illegal forced introduction of wolves by federal and state wildlife agencies and to fund a lawsuit to put an end to the destruction wolves are dealing our wildlife resources. 

Every sportsman who hunts, or anyone who just enjoys watching wildlife, needs to attend this presentation.

WTP files brief backing Firearms Freedom Act
Property rights advocate backing MSSA effort to protect gun rights

BILLINGS – Montana’s largest property rights organization filed an amicus brief Monday supporting the Montana Shooting Sports Association’s lawsuit validating the state’s Firearms Freedom Act.  Sponsored by state Rep. Joel Boniek (R-Livingston) and passed into law in 2009, the legislation declares any gun made and sold within a state’s borders is exempt from federal gun control under Congress’ authority to regulate interstate commerce.

“The Constitution absolutely prohibits any form of government gun control,” said Dan Fuchs, Western Tradition Partnership’s Director of Government Relations and a former Montana state legislator.  “WTP is proud to join MSSA in protecting your rights to hunt and access public lands, which are threatened by gun grabbers.”

The brief was filed Monday in United States District Court District Of Montana by attorney Jim Brown.  This is not WTP’s first foray into opposing gun control.  WTP’s Director of Grassroots Coalitions Tim Ravndal organized opposition to a February proposal by the Fish, Parks and Wildlife Commission banning lead shot for upland game bird hunting in the Freezeout Lake and Canyon Ferry wildlife management areas.  Inundated by citizen opposition, the commission dismissed the proposal on a 3-2 vote.

Western Tradition Partnership is a 501(c)(4) grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to fighting environmental extremism and promoting responsible development and management of land, water, and natural resources in the Rocky Mountain West and across the United States.  For more information, go to http://www.westerntradition.org.