Nearly 40 groups from conservation, animal protection, environmental justice, and public health today sent a letter opposing a new bill that would reverse legislation passed in 2013 that will require the use of non-lead ammunition for all hunting in California. Audubon California partnered with the Humane Society of the United State and Defenders of Wildlife to successfully sponsor Assembly Bill 711 in 2013 because of the documented threats that toxic lead in the environment pose for birds, other wildlife, and people. Today's letter was signed by those three groups as well as the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, Clean Water Action, Sierra Club California, ASPCA, and others. It was addressed to Assemblymember James Gallagher, who authored the legislation seeking to overturn AB 711.

The letter highlights the same arguments that resulted in the passage of AB 711, stating: "As we successfully argued during the legislative effort in 2013, lead ammunition has been a problem for California wildlife for decades and has grave implications for public health." The letter notes that lead from ammunition has been directly linked to deaths of the California Condor and other birds, that it has been linked to higher lead levels for people who eat game meat, and that non-lead alternatives are widely available.

The letter concludes: "... we urge you to consider dropping AB 395 and focus on efforts that meaningfully steward and protect California’s wildlife, the environment and public health."