To The Editor:The Bee's online Hive page, entitled "Misguided Bolinsky Hurts Efforts to Stop Elephant Poaching." Being "Bolinsky," my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to know more about how I could have done such a terrible thing. After all, I love elephants every bit as much as Annie Hornish, writer of yesterday's literary prize winner for "best fiction."Antiques and The Arts Weekly and many knowledgeable collectors. One of Connecticut's largest, most reputable and spectacular auction houses is owned by a local family. These are good, moral people that I proudly call constituents and friends. There's also been an outpouring of encouragement from collectors and dealers from around and beyond our state, all watching us and acutely aware of the misguided legislation being pushed here. They fear this bill going viral and criminalizing them next. I'm proud to defend their rights too, while taking care of my own constituents.

Yesterday, a letter appeared in

An outright misrepresentation of House Bill 5578 was Annie's objective yesterday, along with making the misrepresentations personal. I'd like every interested constituent to clearly understand this issue and totally refute that which is was not true in yesterday's letter, as I address what you should know.

As stated correctly, "We are in the midst of a poaching crisis of unprecedented scale and cruelty."

However, it is not true that Connecticut is or will ever be "a vibrant haven for illicit ivory." The assertion that Connecticut consumers are regularly "deceived by sellers of illicit ivory products" is not true. The truth is, illicit ivory has no market in Connecticut because there is no legal supply or demand for this abhorrent material.

In fact, illicit, poached ivory products are already illegal under existing federal law. What we have in Connecticut are legitimate owners or sellers of antiquities, historic pieces, antique art, tea sets, antique fans, and family heirlooms, dating back generations. Our state promotes the Antiques Trail as a tourist draw, yet HB 5578 seeks only to make these items, many priceless, illegal to possess and sell. It renders treasured, legal antique possessions valueless. It's a seizure bill and does nothing to solve the problem of poaching, which must end.

I'd give my right arm to stop the poaching of elephants and rhinos, but HB 5578 does not address this repugnant problem at its source, or along it's illegal distribution network. Does criminalizing my constituents and other Connecticut residents in their homes or small businesses for possessing antiques save a species?

The forces behind this misguided bill say, "Rep Bolinsky is doing the bidding of a few antique dealers when he should instead be doing the bidding of his constituents, who care deeply about animals." Hogwash. First of all, I too, care deeply for animals. Secondly, I am proud to say that this effort is totally about helping my constituents and righting a potential wrong. It defends ordinary Newtown people, collectors, and business owners.

As it has spread beyond Newtown and Connecticut borders, local stakeholders were always my priority. It's constituent service. I don't represent any "special interest" and there's nothing in this for me, except risk, which is why I write to defend myself.

Newtown is an active antiques community. We're home to the

A little knowledge goes a long way. The facts have drawn more than 60 fellow lawmakers to also oppose this bill because it does nothing to eradicate poaching. We can do better.

Finally, it is a validation to know leading cultural institutions like the Wadsworth Atheneum, Mystic Seaport Museum, Slater Memorial Museum, and Connecticut Historical Society also oppose this bill for what it does not do for endangered species, as well as the damage it will do to their ability to acquire items of significant historical heritage.

In conclusion and for the record, HB 5578 is a bad bill that does not solve a terrible problem that we must address. If given the opportunity, I vow to be part of the solution. That's what leaders do.

Mitch Bolinsky

Proudly Representing Newtown in the CT General Assembly

3 Wiley Lane, Newtown                   April 22, 2016