Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins‘ bill to close loopholes in California law prohibiting the sale of ivory passed the state legislature Friday and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
“California is one of the top U.S. markets for illegal ivory sales,” said Atkins, who represents coastal San Diego County. “In Africa, elephants and rhinos are being slaughtered every day for their ivory, and even worse, it’s suspected that the proceeds are being used to fund terrorism.”
She said that by signing Assembly Bill 96, Gov. Jerry Brown “can help strengthen enforcement against the illegal ivory trade in California, which will, in turn, help put an end to poaching.”
Currently, the ban on ivory trade in California includes an exemption for products imported before Jan. 1, 1977. Atkins’ bill removes this exemption and prohibits a person from purchasing, selling, offering for sale, possessing with intent to sell or importing with intent to sell elephant ivory or rhinoceros horn, except as specified under very limited educational and scientific circumstances.
