The National Park Service (NPS, 2008) explains that "Numerous scientific studies have reached a consensus: lead poisoning is the biggest threat facing the successful recovery of the California condor." The NPS asserts that "More than 500 scientific studies published since 1898 have documented that worldwide, 134 species of wildlife are negatively affected by lead," including condors.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the NRA -- an organization that indeed does a lot of good, and has millions of responsible hunters as members -- has attacked the science regarding lead poisoning and has taken the position that the law in California calling for non-lead ammunition in condor habitat areas is really an attempt to "ban firearms." That is ridiculous. This has always been the NRA mantra when gun safety advocates try to pass legislation: they're trying to take NRA members' guns away. This is a patently absurd but powerful piece of propaganda. As to the link between lead and condor mortality, the NRA website on July 22, 2011, reports there is "no scientific evidence to begin with"; the NRA claims all studies linking lead to condors are "flawed." Actually, the NRA's assertions are flawed. The NRA promotes and repeats falsehoods ad nauseam, as though truly intelligent and thoughtful people can be propagandized into believing anything.
Conclusion
Professor D. Michael Fry...
But the facts can never be changed or skewed by NRA propaganda, which really amounts to more than denial or deception: call a falsehood what it is -- a lie.
Works Cited
Fry, D. Michael. (2003). Assessment of Lead Contamination Sources Exposing California
Condors. Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis. Retrieved July
21, 2011, from http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/SPECIES/condor/Fry-Report-040703.pdf.
National Park Service / U.S. Department of the Interior. Lead Bullet Risks for Humans & Wildlife / Condors and Other Wildlife. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from http://www.nps.gov/pinn/naturescience/leadinfo.htm.
National Rifle Association. (2011). California: Sliding Down the Slippery Slope. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from http://home.nra.org.#/home.
Ventana Wildlife Society. (2011). California Condor Life History. Retrieved July 22, 2011,
From http://www.ventanaws.org/species_condors_history/.
