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Summary of Question 1

This proposed law would prohibit the use of certain traps for fur-bearing mammals, prohibit certain methods of hunting bear or bobcat, and eliminates some restrictions on who may serve on the state Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

The proposed law would prohibit the use, setting, manufacture, or possession of any trap to capture fur-bearing mammals, except common mouse and rat traps, nets, and box or cage traps that confine a whole animal without grasping any part of it. Traps designed to grip an animal's body or body part, crush as steel jaw leghold traps, padded leghold traps, and snares, would be prohibited. Federal and state health officials could use such traps in case of a threat to human health or safety. Where a property owner had reasonably tried but failed to correct an animal problem on the property using a legal trap, the owner could apply for and the state Director of Fisheries and Wildlife could issue a permit to use a prohibited type of trap, except a leghold trap, for up to 30 days to correct the problem.

A person violating any of these requirements could be punished by a fine of between $300 and $1000, or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both, for each prohibited trap and each day of violation. A person convicted for a second violation would be required to surrender, and could never again obtain, any trapping license or problem animal control permit.

The proposed law would also prohibit the pursuit or hunting of bear or bobcat with the aid of a dog or dogs. Hunting bear using any type of bait, lure, or attraction, or knowingly hunting bear in a baited area, would also be prohibited. The Director could allow the use of dogs or bait in legitimate scientific research projects and in order to control particular animals that posed a threat to human safety or that destroyed livestock, property, or crops.

Violators could be punished by a fine of between $300 and $1000, or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both, for each violation. A person convicted for a second violation would be required to surrender, and could never again obtain, any hunting and dog training licenses and permits.

The proposed law would eliminate the requirement that five members of the state Fisheries and Wildlife Board have held sporting licenses in the state for five consecutive years and that four members represent fishing, hunting, and trapping interests.

The proposed law states that if any of its provisions were declared invalid, the other provisions would remain in effect.

1996 - Bristol County - Question 1Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 1, 1996?

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Bristol County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
101,075
63,602
36,807 201,484
Acushnet
 
2,007
1,761
678
4,446
Attleboro
 
7,995
4,727
1,609
14,331
Berkley
 
1,114
1,063
144
2,321
Dartmouth
 
5,150
3,707
3,508
12,365
Dighton
 
1,134
1,286
262
2,682
Easton
 
4,748
3,637
1,308
9,693
Fairhaven
 
3,078
2,016
1,992
7,086
Fall River
 
16,888
7,620
6,133
30,641
Freetown
 
1,715
1,722
339
3,776
Mansfield
 
5,022
2,744
1,062
8,828
New Bedford
 
14,127
7,969
8,755
30,851
N. Attleborough
 
5,952
3,713
1,335
11,000
Norton
 
3,734
2,367
444
6,545
Raynham
 
2,540
1,910
625
5,075
Rehoboth
 
2,317
1,553
487
4,357
Seekonk
 
3,453
1,561
1,213
6,227
Somerset
 
4,738
2,814
1,704
9,256
Swansea
 
3,883
2,820
696
7,399
Taunton
 
8,062
6,036
3,740
17,838
Westport
 
3,418
2,576
773
6,767
County Totals
101,075
63,602
36,807 201,484