H.R. 1688 – Reading Mode

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1688

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 19, 2005

Mr. Farr (for himself, Mr. Shays, Mr. Leach, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Maloney, Ms. Lee, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. McDermott, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Evans, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Engel, Mr. Honda, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. George Miller of California, and Ms. Solis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain interstate conduct relating to exotic animals.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2005.

Transport or possession of exotic animals for purposes of killing or injuring them

(a)

In general

Chapter 3 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

49.

Exotic animals

(a)

Prohibition

Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly transfers, transports, or possesses a confined exotic animal, for the purposes of allowing the killing or injuring of that animal for entertainment or for the collection of a trophy, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(b)

Definitions

In this section—

(1)

the term confined exotic animal means a mammal of a species not indigenous to the United States, that has been held in captivity—

(A)

the majority of the animal’s life; or

(B)

a period of 1 year; and

(2)

the term captivity does not include any period during which an animal lives as it would in the wild—

(A)

surviving primarily by foraging for naturally occurring food;

(B)

roaming at will over an open area of not less than 1,000 acres; and

(C)

having the opportunity to avoid hunters.

(b)

Conforming amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

49. Exotic animals