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Dear LEAD Group:

Hello, I am a recent environmental studies graduate. I was wondering if your organization would support our campaign to protect Michigan's mourning doves and reduce lead shot into our atmosphere. Mourning doves are Michigan's Official Bird of Peace and enjoyed as backyard birds. They are an important part of our symbolism and until recently were protected for 100 years.

In June 2004, the state legislature effectively ignored the will of the people and established the state's first mourning dove shooting season, allowing the needless killing of the small birds. Mourning doves are traditional backyard songbirds in Michigan and shooting them for target practice or any other purpose is both unnecessary and wrong.

Shortly thereafter, the Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting ban was formed to empower the people to make a difference and save their beloved doves. Made up of concerned citizens and local and national conservation, humane, as well as active participation from numerous organizations, the Committee's purpose is simply to stop the needless shooting of mourning doves and restore Michigan's 100-year tradition.

This worthy cause has touched thousands of individuals who have become actively involved to make a positive change and protect this treasured symbol. In fact, at the petition drive's conclusion last March, the Committee had gathered more than 275,000 signatures from Michigan voters - fully 73 percent more signatures than the 159,000 required by law to qualify this referendum for the November 2006 ballot. Lead shot will be allowed to be used for shooting of mourning doves. Information on the danger of lead shot can be found at www.savethedoves.org/news_toxicshot.html www.savethedoves.org/misc/toxicshottakestoll.html.

The Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban needs your endorsement of our important campaign to restore the continued protection of Michigan's Official Bird of Peace! Please consider adding your group's name to the already growing list of more than 200 entities that are endorsing this campaign.

The endorsement form is attached. Please do not hesitate to email or call me with any questions you may have.

Thank you for your kind consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,

William McMullin
Volunteer
Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban
Songbird Protection Coalition
Phone: 517-321-DOVE (3683)
Fax: 517-659-6000
Website: www.StopShootingDoves.org
and www.SaveTheDoves.org/facts.html

Dear William,

thanks for alerting us to your important campaign which naturally, The LEAD Group endorses. It is not possible for you to send an attachment using the form on our website so I tried to find your endorsement form on your website www.savethedoves.org and I filled in the following comment on the form  but when I submitted it, I received a message that "The page cannot be displayed". When I clicked on Back, I was asked to log in but as I had not registered earlier, no Name and Password combination allowed me in. So I'm not sure whether I have successfully endorsed your campaign or not but I would be grateful if you could add our endorsement to your list if the website submission was not successful.

Thanks again, your website is great.

Regards
Yours Sincerely
Elizabeth O'Brien

COMMENT RE: SAVE THE DOVES
"The LEAD Group Incorporated is an environmental group based in Australia which promotes protection of the global environment from lead in all its forms. There is no justification for using lead shot when safer alternatives exist but more importantly, The LEAD Group endorses the campaign of the Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban of the Songbird Protection Coalition."