COURTESY OF NJ GOV . ( TOP ); GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA How quickly things change when ideology and politics are removed from wildlife management . New Jersey Gov . Phil Murphy has gone from zero in last issue ’ s Heroes & Villains column for his steadfast , and expensive , defense of non-lethal bear-encounter deterrence to hero this issue by rescinding the ban and reinstating the bear hunt . With his gubernatorial term limit maxed out , Murphy , who twice ran for office promising to end the hunt , which he did successfully , conceded that the millions of taxpayer dollars he wasted on non-lethal control didn ’ t work , and that citizens ’ lives were endangered by the escalating frequency and seriousness of human-bear conflicts . Using emergency powers , he quickly reinstituted the late-fall bear hunt . Animal-rights activists sued , but a state judge quickly dismissed the challenge and the hunt resumed and even extended . We ’ ll give credit where credit is due , even if a few years late . Not to be outdone by the big boys on Capitol Hill when it comes to ridiculous legislation , Washington , D . C ., Councilmember Vincent Gray introduced Bill 24-0758 , which would ban the sale of fur products throughout the District . The bill , which exempts leather goods and taxidermy , includes any article of clothing or covering , or any fashion accessory , including , but not limited to , handbags , shoes , slippers , hats , earmuffs , scarves , shawls , gloves , jewelry or key chains , and home accessories and décor using fur . In the letter signed by all eight ward councilmembers , cruelty to animals was , of course , cited as reason , as was the possibility of COVID transmission and toxicity to the environment . Synthetic fur technology was given , apparently seriously , as a less toxic and environmentally friendly alternative . VILLAIN : VINCENT GRAY Washington , D . C ., Councilmember HERO : PHIL MURPHY New Jersey Governor 8 SPORTSMENSALLIANCE . ORG V V H V H V V H V V H H V V H H V V V HH V V V HH V V V HHH V V V HHH V V V V HHH V VV V V H H V V HHH V V V HHHHV V V VHHHHVVV V H H HH H V V VV V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H V H H V V HHH V V V HHHHVVV V H H HH H V V VV V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H HH H V V V VHHHHVVV V V H HH H V VV V V H HH H H V VV V V H HH H H V VV V V H HH H H V V V V V V H HH H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V V V V V H H H H H H V V VV V H H H H H H V V VV V H H HH H V V V V V H V H H V V HHH V V V HHH V V HHH V V H H V V H H V H H V H H V H V H H The FRONT LINE Heroes Villains WHO WE LIKE AND WHO WE FIGHT TO PROTECT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT