GOV. JERRY BROWN SIGNED BILL AB-711 INTO LAW EARLIER THIS YEAR MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO USE LEAD AMMUNITION FOR HUNTING. THE BILL IS THE BASIS OF MANY YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY BY U.C. SANTA CRUZ TOXICOLOGISTS DONALD SMITH AND MYRA FINKELSTEIN. THEIR RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS TYPE OF AMMO IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF LEAD POISONING IN THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR. CONDORS INGEST THE FRAGMENTS OF LEAD WHEN THEY FEED ON FELLED GAME, OR “GUT-PILES” , LEFT BEHIND BY HUNTERS. HUMAN BEINGS ARE ALSO AT RISK FROM CONSUMING THE FRAGMENTATION PARTICLES IN GAME MEATS SUCH AS VENISON, DUCKS, OR ANY OTHER ANIMAL HUNTED FOR FOOD. THIS BILL MAKES CALIFORNIA THE FIRST STATE TO BAN LEAD-BASED AMMUNITION.
