Protection for Mountain Lions

Your support of Proposition 117 (editorial, “No Longer the Hunted Mountain Lion,” May 16) despite scientific evidence, opposition by major wildlife conservation groups, and the flaws which you admit are in the proposed law, is most regrettable.

When funds for health and social programs are cut, when funds for actual endangered species are transferred from already tight budgets, when the public is not able to use the lands which have been purchased with their tax dollars, and when attacks on children, pets and livestock escalate because of a lion population that cannot be controlled until after a tragedy occurs, it will be too late for hand-wringing and whining that this is not what was meant to happen.

I sincerely hope that the people of California do not give in to the emotionalism and misinformation that backers of Prop. 117 are pushing.

BRIAN K. WELCH

Lancaster