As a promise to fight the anti-hunting agenda in California, the Agriculture Preservation and Environmental Conservation Sportsmen Foundation (APECS) has pledged $50,000 to support the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) and their efforts to protect the outdoor lifestyle in the state.
“We knew that there were challenges in California, a state adrift with misguided policies and poor legislation. We hope to bring coordinated leadership to capitalize on the heroic day-to-day work of the conservation organizations and unite these efforts,” said Nick Pinizzotto, President and CEO of USSA. “We are grateful for the committed partnership of APECS, which they demonstrated with their generous gesture.”
Recognizing that much of the legislation targeting sportsmen throughout the country has originated in the animal-rights stronghold of California, USSA opened a Western U.S. office in Sacramento in the spring of 2014 to better combat onerous bills and adverse policy decisions at one of its primary sources. Michael Flores, a former California Fish and Game Commissioner and political strategist, was hired by USSA to coordinate efforts in the state. His first act was to reconvene the Al Taucher Conservation Coalition (ATCC) – an alliance of 30 conservation, labor and volunteer sporting organizations that represent more than one million outdoors men and women.
“Sacramento, the state capitol of California, is the right place for USSA’s leadership. With the formation of the Al Taucher Conservation Coalition we now have a unified front to tackle any legislative or legal issues to preserve our long history of conservation in California,” said Flores. “APECS, along with more than two dozen conservation organizations, will play a pivotal role in influencing policy decisions today, tomorrow and for years to come.”
USSA has a long and successful history of providing legislative consulting, political positioning, and bipartisan team building on issues that concern hunting, fishing, and trapping across the United States. The Ohio-based USSA has a 95-percent success rate on issues they engage in during the legislative process, in the court system and at the ballot box.
APECS was created earlier this year to unite the agricultural and outdoor communities on common issues that influence farming, ranching, hunting and fishing interests. The natural alliance between conservation-minded farmers and outdoorsmen is a hallmark of USSA initiatives and presents a unified and politically powerful front in Sacramento.
“For far too long, conservation groups and outdoor enthusiasts have failed to confront political issues with a strong and united effort,” said Brian Riley, Owner of Redbank Outfitters and APECS Board Member. “That is why when USSA said they were going to set up shop in California, we were eager to support those efforts.”
The $50,000 pledge will support the efforts of USSA’s Western U.S. office and will strengthen their presence in the state of California.
About the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) is a 501(c)4 organization and provides direct lobbying and grassroots coalition support to protect and advance the rights of hunters, trappers, anglers and scientific wildlife management professionals. The USSA is the only organization exclusively devoted to combating the attacks made on America’s sportsman traditions by anti-hunting and animal rights extremists. This is accomplished through coalition building, ballot issue campaigning and legislative and government relations. Stay connected to USSA: Online, Facebook and Twitter.
