Kansas Denies PETA's Anti-Fishing Billboard Bribe

 

The state of Kansas along with a good portion of other state in the US is having budget problems. To help Kansas a few animal rights activities at PETA decided to try and help by offering them money. In order to help the state generate revenue the group proposed that the state let them hang an anti-fishing billboard at the Miami State Fishing Lake. The PETA Kansas anti-fishing billboard showed a dog with a fishing hook in his mouth and the copy would read: If You Wouldn't Do This to a Dog, Why Do It to a Fish?" Gov. Mark Parkinson declined the offer stating "it wasn't a long term solution to the state's financial problems".

 

I'm glad to see that Kansas didn't let PETA put the billboard up on the lake. Gov. Mark Parkinson shows great judgment by not letting such an act from occurring because the billboard would probably just bring more harm to the state then good. If the state would have put the billboard up they would have been indirectly saying one of many things.

 

First the state would have said that they don't care about nature by allowing a billboard to destroy the natural beauty of a state park. When you let organizations or even companies put billboards up in wildlife areas all you are doing is destroying the landscape. Second they would be saying that the state can be bought. If you want support for your organization just throw money at the state of Kansas and they'll let you do what you want. When people buy fishing and hunting licenses some of that revenue goes to keeping parks clean and open so everyone can enjoy them. Finally, the state would have supported an end to fishing in the state. Letting PETA put the billboard up would have said that the state of Kansas doesn't like that you fish on their lakes.

 

If the sign would have went up I think the state would have lost more revenue because I highly doubt that this sign would have brought in more money then what is generated from fishing licenses. The sign would have caused outrage across the fishing community and I personally would feel like the state of Kansas didn't want us fishing in their state. I wouldn't plan a fishing trip to Kansas if the sign was put up. The sign might actually have caused out of state fishers to go to a more fisher friendly state.

 

While I'm glad the billboard didn't go up I'm not saying that PETA shouldn't be allowed to hang the billboard. They have the right to express their message I just feel that cluttering state parks with that kind of propaganda is not the appropriate venue. If PETA wants to hang the sign outside the park then that's fine but I don't think that the government should be in the business of renting state land to support activists groups. Wouldn't they then have to allow other activists groups that support fishing place billboards also? The lake would have become cluttered with billboards.

 

What are your thoughts on Gov. Mark Parkinson refusing PETA's anti-fishing sign? Should the state allow billboards within State Parks?

 

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