Adding reinforcement to research that shows how lead from ammunition not only poses a danger to wildlife, but to people as well, the California Medical Association last week added its name to the long list of conservation groups, animal protection advocates, public health organizations, and children's advocates who support Assembly Bill 711, which will require the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting. The bill has also received the support of nearly every major newspaper in California, including the Sacramento Bee, the Los Angeles Times, the San Jose Mercury News, the Fresno Bee, the Monterey County Herald, the Riverside Press Enterprise and the Bakersfield Californian.

Groups supporting AB 711 include: Audubon California (co-sponsor), Defenders of Wildlife (co-sponsor), The Humane Society of the United States (co-sponsor), as well as:

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

(AFSCME), AFL-CIO

Action for Animals

Alameda Creek Alliance

Animal Welfare Institute

Born Free USA

California Coastal Protection Network

California Medical Association

Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy (CHANGE)

Cape Wildlife Center

Center for Biological Diversity

Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation

Children Now

Clean Water Action

Defenders of Wildlife

Earth Island Institute

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care

El Dorado Audubon Society

Endangered Habitats League

Environment California

Environmental Action Committee of West Marin

Environmental Defense Center

Environmental Protection Information Center

Environmental Working Group

Forests Forever

Friends of the Eel River

Friends of Five Creeks

Green Cities California

Helping our Peninsula's Environment

Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association

Injured and Orphaned Wildlife

Klamath Forest Alliance

Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Los Padres Forest Watch

MOMS Advocating Sustainability

Natural Resources Defense Council

Northcoast Environmental Center

Northern California Council Federation of Fly Fishers

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles

Planning and Conservation League

Preserve Lamorinda Open Space

Project Coyote

Protecting Earth & Animals with Compassion and Education

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, California

Public Interest Coalition

Rainforest Action Network

Raptors are the Solution

Regional Parks Association

Sacramento Audubon Society

Salmon Protection and Watershed Network

San Fernando Valley Audubon Society

Santa Clara County Activists for Animals

Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society

Santa Cruz Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Save the Frogs

Sierra Club California

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

Social Compassion in Legislation

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Stewards of the Earth

Strawberry Creek Watershed Council

Tehama Wild Care

The Paw Project

Tri-City Ecology Center

Turtle Island Restoration Network

Ventana Wilderness Alliance

Wild Equity Institute

Wildcare

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release

Wintu Audubon Society

***And more than 100 licensed veterinarians