Wednesday, July 17, 2013

When Everything is A Crime, Even the Kennedys Get Kaught

That crazy Kennedy clan, always getting into trouble. Here they violate Federal law, the Endangered Species Act no less by the nefarious act of rescuing a Sea Turtle?!?

Feds: Kennedy brothers sea turtle rescue violated federal law

U.S. officials say two members of the Kennedy family who thought they were doing a good deed by freeing an entangled sea turtle actually violated federal law.

John Bullard of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Division of Fisheries says he has spoken to brothers Max and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about their rescue of an estimated 500-pound (230-kilogram) turtle in Nantucket Sound over the July Fourth weekend.

.....

Bullard tells the Cape Cod Times the rescue was a violation of the Endangered Species Act. He says only the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is certified to handle turtles.

Note that Robert F. Kennedy Jr is not only an attorney but an advocate for the environment and Endangered Species Act, so its rather delicious he's being knocked for violating the act by doing a good deed. Of course, because he's a Kennedy he's apparently not going to be charged or fined like an ordinary American and is instead just given a stern talking-to pour encourager les autres.

A pretty sad commentary that doing a good deed can be a federal crime, and that but for who they are, these two members of the Kennedy clan probably would be facing a federal case.

Even more sad is the idea that only the designee of the Feds may assist in a rescue and that Kennedy even advocates for that as reported in the Huff Po:

"When we spotted a sea turtle in trouble over the 4th of July weekend, our first impulse was to do what we could to help free the animal," Robert Kennedy Jr. said in a statement on NOAA's website. "But we realize that the action we took was pretty risky, these are large, powerful animals."

He urged people who spot a turtle in danger to call NOAA, then stand by until rescuers arrive to help them locate the animal.

Remember folks, only the feds are qualified to handle that. . . . . uh turtle.

3 comments:

ProudHillbilly said...

And by the time the "proper" folks get to the scene, the turtle is dead.

It hurts hurts hurts to say this, but I'm on the Kennedy side with this one.

Scott said...

Wasn't that what that Florida cop said, just before he shot himself in the thigh? "I'm the only one in this room qualified to handle this gun". Of course, he wasn't a fed so that probably doesn't count.

Still, it was a large (caliber) powerful (handgun), but he realizes that it was a pretty risky action he took pulling it out of its holster.

Sheesh. The myth of the all-wise, all benevolent fed continues to be spread among the feeble masses.

Aaron said...

Scott:

Yep, that was what I was alluding to, and he was indeed a Fed - a DEA agent:
http://youtu.be/mhIJOVD8hwY

He's never going to live that one down.