Law-Abiding Americans Poised to Suffer from Ivory Ban, Says Cato Analyst
The Obama administration’s multi-faceted strategy to combat trade in poached ivory and rhinoceros horns will hurt law-abiding Americans who traded ivory in the past, and will not help to stem poaching, said Cato senior fellow Doug Bandow in a Feb. 27 blog post. The administration launched the effort on Feb. 11 (see 14021126). Through administrative order and legislation, the Obama administration aims to stamp out nearly all commercial imports into the U.S., along with interstate commerce of related products.
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“Ivory entered America legally until 1989. Antiques with proper certification could be imported after that. But in mid-February the administration announced that if you had followed the law, it planned to render your collection or inventory essentially valueless,” said Bandow. “The new guidance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that most every auctioneer, collector, and dealer-- and anyone else who has purchased or received something made of ivory -- better hire a lawyer before selling their ivory possessions.”