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Illinois State Rep. Proposes Ban on Sale of…Lion Meat?

Mar. 11, 2013 10:02am
Rep. Luis Arroyo (D Ill.) Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sale of Lion Meat

Rep. Arroyo Addressing the Safer Foundation. (reparroyo.com)

A state lawmaker is pushing legislation that would ban the sale of lion meat and the slaughter of the animals in Illinois, saying he knows of at least two places where he believes the meat is sold.

The House bill would establish penalties of up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500 for offenders.

Rep. Luis Arroyo (D Ill.) Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sale of Lion Meat

Czimer’s Game and Seafood, an Illinois-based outlet, has in the past sold lion meat. (Screen grab).

Lion burgers are practically nonexistent on restaurant menus, so the measure left some political observers baffled as to how the issue surfaced at a time when Illinois is facing the worst public pension shortfall in the nation and also debating gun control and other weighty issues.

The sale of lion meat is not illegal in the U.S. and the animal is not currently considered “critically endangered.†However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in November that it would reexamine its position.

Rep. Luis Arroyo, the Chicago Democrat sponsoring the measure, would not identify the two places where he thinks lion meat is for sale, but he said slaughtering the animal for food is inhumane and needs to be outlawed.

“Those are zoo animals,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times. “… There’s other meats we can eat besides the lions.”

Rep. Luis Arroyo (D Ill.) Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sale of Lion Meat

Kate Barnes, of Tempe, Ariz., tastes a lion meat burger at Il Vinaio restaurant in Mesa, Ariz., June 24, 2010. (AP).

Arroyo’s bill could be made obsolete as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering protecting African lions under the Endangered Species Act, primarily to stop the trade in hunting trophies and lion skins. But that would also prevent the sale of lion meat, which is, for now, legal.

Critics questioned the wisdom of putting the matter before a legislature already grappling with enormous challenges, like the crushing $96.7 billion in unfunded liabilities in the public pension system and the state’s overall budget problems.

“Legislators have bigger issues to tame than the commercialization of lion meat,” said Kristina Rasmussen, vice president of the Illinois Policy Institute.

“Most people would never even conceive of eating lion meat,” she said. “… If this is a problem — and I’m not convinced that it is — surely it can be solved by civil action and community consensus and open debate. Do we have to rush in with a law, especially when we have so many other problems right in front of our face?”

A restaurant owner in Phoenix generated controversy in 2010 by putting lion burgers on his menu in celebration of the World Cup that summer in South Africa. Animal rights activists picketed the restaurant and some in South Africa expressed shock as well, because lion meat is shunned in that country.

Rep. Luis Arroyo (D Ill.) Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sale of Lion Meat

A lion meat patty is shown ready-to-cook in Mesa, Ariz., June 24, 2010, (AP).

The restaurant’s supplier said it purchased the meat from a Chicago-area company called Czimer’s Game & Seafood in Homer Glen, Ill. Owner Richard Czimer was sentenced to six months in prison in 2003 for illegally buying and selling tiger and leopard meat.

Arroyo’s bill is being reviewed by the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee.

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​The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(H/T: Daily Mail). Featured image: Getty Images.

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Comments (61)

1 2
  • gb2
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 2:31am

    those animals belong in zoos since thats such a better life to be an imprisoned spectacle then to be enjoyed just once.

    Report this comment

    gb2  
  • gb2
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 2:26am

    man i would love to eat a lion meat burger. especially in front of the lion exhibit at the zoo. why haven’t i heard of this in texas

    Report this comment

    gb2  
  • stuckinhellinois
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 2:43pm

    Thump, thump, thump. Sorry, that’s just the sound of my head banging against the wall. This state is sinking and our mentally deficient lawmakers are once again really tackling the big issues. God help this state, and all who are enduring the majority of this states mentally incompetent electorate’s decisions.

    Report this comment

    stuckinhellinois  
    • OniKaze
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 3:51pm

      You live in Illinois (ahh… I get your screen name now…)??

      I am so sorry for you… Seriously… I wouldn’t live there even if my boss doubled my pay to do so… Vile den of corruption and brainless leaders..

      I would gladly welcome you to Indiana… We may not be perfect, but Indiana is about as close as it gets now-a-days….

      If you chose to stay, my best wishes and prayers go out to you… (You’ll need them….).

      Report this comment

      OniKaze  
    • MCON29
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 5:23pm

      Right here in the heart of it. Springfield. I delivered room service to Obama a few times in my younger days whenhe was a state senator and I bell hopped at a popular hotel that he stayed at. Surprisingly, he tipped $1.00 the surprise is that he tipped at all.

      Report this comment

      MCON29  
    • stuckinhellinois
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:17pm

      Onikaze, yes indeed about my screen name. I LOVE Indiana, but my folks are here in Illinois and have no chance of getting out. We’ve moved a good hour and a half from the city, and it seems to be a little bubble of utopia…for the moment. My husband was born and raised in England and is now a proud, patriotic US citizen. He Tells me he wants out of this looney bin about twice a week. We are extremely fortunate that his job allows us to live anywhere in the states, but I can’t leave my parents. As soon as we figure out a way, we are Texas or Indiana bound. I sure do love St. John and South Bend!

      Report this comment

      stuckinhellinois  
  • mvcrowsnest
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 2:30pm

    i forgot, we are paying these guys for this la la land stuff, where do i apply

    Report this comment

    mvcrowsnest  
  • mvcrowsnest
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 2:00pm

    Another illinois joke

    Report this comment

    mvcrowsnest  
  • pap pap
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 1:56pm

    We absolutely need this law or else we may never see a lion in the woods again. Oh that’s right they are not there now. We must have eaten all of them already

    Too late Arroyo.

    Maybe you should spend your time doing something important like cutting spending idiotae magna.

    Anyway, eating lion apparently leads to good cleavage.

    Report this comment

    pap pap  
  • The_Fifth_Column
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 12:58pm

    I think it’s pretty tasty! It’s a little like Calico, but with a grainier texture. Personally, I prefer Cheetah or Baby Leopard. They aren’t quite as stringy. But my all time favorite is still Spotted Owl Soup, and Bald Eagle under glass…Hummmmmm, Hummmmmm.

    Report this comment

    The_Fifth_Column  
  • marine249
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 12:45pm

    What oh what will obummer do.
    go back to eating dog

    Report this comment

    marine249  
  • MCON29
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 12:33pm

    Then throw Barney Franks fat a*s in jail. Im pretty sure he ate Ted Kennedy.

    Report this comment

    MCON29  
    • thegreatcarnac
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 2:51pm

      Oh….I am sure old ‘Bwaney Fwank” ate a lot of people if you know what I mean.

      Report this comment

      thegreatcarnac  
    • MCON29
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 5:26pm

      Ha…all that lisping and spitting is a direct result from that. Probably TMJ

      Report this comment

      MCON29  
  • smwk
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 12:02pm

    so, what Rand Paul did in making sure our President could not legally kill us is being called ‘ridiculous’, but passing laws about lion meat is good use of time? hmmmm… liberal logic 101.

    Report this comment

    smwk  
  • ltb
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 12:01pm

    Mmmmm, lion meat. Tastes really good with Dodo bird casserole.

    Report this comment

    ltb  
  • Watchyer6
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:58am

    I hear wildebeest is very low in fat.
    BTW- the only animals that belong in zoo’s are members of the Illinois legislature, starting with House Speaker Mike Madigan and this guy, Arroyo.

    Report this comment

    Watchyer6  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:38am

    It’s good to see the fine elected legislature of Illinois working on the life and death matters. I mean the gang violence in Chicago that leads to thousands of deaths each year through the use of guns is of no concern, let’s protect all those lions running around the city.

    Report this comment

    Al J Zira  
    • WarMunger_Al
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:53am

      How can the US fish and game outlaw hunting African lions….I wasn’t aware there were African lions running around the US. Time to dismantle the entire government, they are all insane.

      Report this comment

      WarMunger_Al  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 12:04pm

      They can’t. Just like they can’t legislate behavior by passing gun control.

      Report this comment

      Al J Zira  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:19am

    People who want lion meat can always go out and shoot themselves an alley cat. It’s the same meat; just not as much of it.

    Report this comment

    qpwillie  
  • sizzlinsexybeckster
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:16am

    “The House bill would establish penalties of up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500 for offenders.”

    How about coming up with a penalty for rapists, instead of a pat on the back?

    Report this comment

    sizzlinsexybeckster  
  • LukeAppling
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:11am

    The sale of “bush meat” in Africa is an enormous problem for Africa as the herds are being plundered by Chinese, Malaysians and Europeans. I am surprised Al Gore has not made a video on this…but what profit can be as much as a green scam?

    Report this comment

    LukeAppling  
  • txswalker
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:11am

    Ok since nobody else said it… Lion meat….IT”S GRRRRRRREAT!

    Report this comment

    txswalker  
  • RaydocX
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:09am

    people eat lion meat?
    i did not expect that, even in Africa.
    no lion meat you would get here could be from healthy animals…
    i’ve never seen lion meat available… wouldn’t want it if i did…
    then again, if someone wants it, why should my reaction preclude their enjoyment…
    it’s not like they’re killing my dog and eating it…
    or forcing my kid to eat it as some healthy alternative…

    oh wait, it’s not really an issue… it’s just filler… fluff… misdirection.
    don’t look at the anti-Constitutional measures they are also pushing.
    (after all, how do you kill a lion without a firearm)
    don’t look at the steal from the working to pay their voter base measures…

    Gotta love Illinois.
    so long as i am far away from it and its politics.

    Report this comment

    RaydocX  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:41am

    this is the progressives trying to distract & clog the legislative process with garbage like this; rather than dealing with a 90+ billion dollar budget deficit.

    Report this comment

    Stoic one  
  • OldSurfRat
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:36am

    Simba burgers?
    Guess that’s the Circle of Life.

    Hey I see a new Bob’s Burgers episode.

    Report this comment

    OldSurfRat  
    • Xanderson
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:51am

      Two Big Cat patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a savannah-seed bun! Yum ^_^

      Report this comment

      Xanderson  
    • OldSurfRat
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:58am

      XANDERSON

      LOL
      I pride myself in rearranging jingles can’t believe I missed that one.
      Nice catch (:

      Report this comment

      OldSurfRat  
    • Xanderson
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:22am

      Hi OLDSURFRAT–

      Thanks. This makes me hungry. Care to join me at McD’s for a 6-piece McPride Nugget Extra Value Meal?

      Report this comment

      Xanderson  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:35am

      Good one, I can see the Monkey go to the top of the rock, and hold up a burger. You know the Zebra would be first in line for one.

      Xanderson, LOL.

      Report this comment

      Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • WarMunger_Al
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:55am

      I have had mountain lion burgers before. They were delicious.

      Report this comment

      WarMunger_Al  
    • OldSurfRat
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 11:58am

      Darmock

      Did not know that Obama liked lion burgers.

      Report this comment

      OldSurfRat  
  • MCON29
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:29am

    “Those are zoo animals,†he told the Chicago Sun-Times. “… There’s other meats we can eat besides the lions.â€

    He is right, they are naturally proned to be in zoos. Lions cage themselves up to be displayed in front of the human populous all the time. Some even make the month long journey to places like Chicago & New York by foot.

    Just when you think things can’t get any dumber. An Illinois Democrat speaks proving you wrong.

    Report this comment

    MCON29  
    • starman70
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:41am

      Gosh!!! Did NANNY BLOOMBERG leave New York and move to Illoinois? This proposal sounds just like something Bloomberg would come up with.

      Report this comment

      starman70  
    • OldSurfRat
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:45am

      Starman

      No nothing said about the size of the lion.

      Report this comment

      OldSurfRat  
  • boss_ross
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:17am

    I never reall considered lion meat. But now that you mention it…I totally want a lion burger.

    Report this comment

    boss_ross  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:14am

    Dorothy: Hey Scarecrow, Tin Man, I could use a cheeseburger.
    Tin Man: Me to, but where are we going to get one?
    Scarecrow: I heard Lion makes a good burger.
    Cowardly Lion: Come on, I am too tough and stringy, you don’t want to eat me.
    Tin Man: Hold him down while I sharpen my axe.
    Toto: Rrrrruuuuffff.

    Report this comment

    Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:10am

    Well. I confirmed my manliness. I noticed the cleavage before the lion burger.

    Report this comment

    Smokey_Bojangles  
  • BaldingEagle1776
    Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:08am

    This site tries too hard to be like Ripley’s Believe it or Not.

    Other observations include the large percentage of “headlines” that end with a question mark, and story leads weighted down with hyperbole, as in “The Best,” “The Most Amazing,” etc. And we can’t forget the oft-used “We Dare You to Read this and not Cry!” and so on.

    It’s akin to holding a yum-yum up for some little yapping dog while it stretches on its hind legs and twirls around. Y’all are that little yippie thing.

    Report this comment

    BaldingEagle1776  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:18am

      Barry says , “Eat More Dog”

      Liberalism is a mental disorder

      Report this comment

      13th Imam  
    • Zipit
      Posted on March 11, 2013 at 10:24am

      Hey BALDWANGO! And I bet that your the type that stands still and let’s that yapping little dog do his thing on your leg! Just for kicks!!!!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
1 2

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