2LT International News

TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Under a bill that is ready for a vote in the House, Floridians could soon kill bears that threaten them and their pets on their property without a permit, providing they do not bait or provoke the animals first or keep parts for trophies or meat.

Due to the rising number of encounters between people and bears, the bill was introduced in November last year by Republican Rep. Jason Shoaf. It was approved for its final House committee stop on Tuesday.

“If you hear your door kicked in in the middle of the night, hear something rummaging around in your kitchen. There is this huge black bear destroying it, digging through your refrigerator, putting you and your children and your pets at risk. Today, you cannot shoot that bear. You have to sit there and blow a whistle and hope you have some bear mace and pray,” Shoaf said.

The House Infrastructure Strategies Committee approved the bill in a 16-9 vote, while two committees approved a similar Senate bill, that has a third stop before being considered by the full chamber.

Under the bill, anyone killing a bear under appropriate circumstances would not be allowed to keep or sell any meat or parts of the animal, and they would have to report the incident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission within 24 hours.

An opponent of the bill, Democratic Rep. Mike Gottlieb said people are far more likely to be killed by alligators, dogs, and bees.

“I am not sure that this is a problem that we just need to rush into a solution of going ahead and killing bears because one is afraid. We need a different solution,” Gottlieb said.

In response, Republican Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, a supporter of the bill, said she would defend herself no matter what comes into her home.

“If a man is coming through my window or a bear or a racoon, it does not matter. That is a threat to my life and my property,” she said.