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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fill up on Growler Guys ... Sheriff Falls pulls plug on Shady Cove video security system ... Oregon State Police involved in Salem shooting after suspect flees ... Fill up on Growler Guys ... Sheriff Falls pulls plug on Shady Cove video security system ... Oregon State Police involved in Salem shooting after suspect flees ... ELECTION 2016 Animal activists want voters to ban ivory sales in Oregon Comment By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 4:36 PM By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 4:36 PM » Social News SALEM — Animal welfare advocates said they will push for a ballot measure asking Oregon voters to outlaw ivory sales after a bill seeking a ban stalled earlier this year in the Legislature. The ballot initiative would end the sale of products derived from a variety of endangered or heavily poached animals, including elephants, rhinos, lions, sea turtles and sharks. The move was announced as the federal government and other states take aim on the legal market for ivory. Proponents hope to tamp down demand for exotic animal parts and discourage poaching in Africa and Asia. Critics countered that criminalizing the sales of parts from animals killed long ago will do nothing to stop the poachers responsible for the killing of elephants today. Zimbabwe officials said cyanide poisoning has killed 62 elephants so far this month, including 22 on Monday at Hwange National Park. "The notion of what's happening to some of our most iconic species is just offensive, morally," said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat who is one of three chief petitioners behind the proposed Oregon ballot initiative. Advocates need to collect just over 88,000 signatures from registered voters by next summer to put the question before voters in the 2016 election. Voters in Washington will decide on a similar initiative next week. Earlier this month, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill outlawing the sale of elephant and rhinoceros horns, joining New York and New Jersey in prohibiting nearly all ivory sales. The Obama administration has also moved to tighten restrictions on imports, exports and state-to-state sales of ivory. Critics of ivory bans say the overwhelming majority of poached animals are destined for markets in Asia. Banning ivory sales in the U,S. will erase the value of art and antiques without addressing demand in Asia or poachers in Africa, they say. All the proposed state and federal rules include exemptions for antiques, musical instruments, jewelry and furniture that have a limited amount of legally imported ivory. Old pianos, guitars and violin bows often have ivory, as do knives and firearms. Ivory products would remain legal to own but not to sell. However, critics complain that the exemption requirements are nearly impossible to meet because few people can prove their ivory was brought to this country before there were any restrictions on it. Supporters of a ban say state laws are necessary because federal authorities don't have enough resources to investigate and prosecute everybody who violates federal wildlife laws. By Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jonathan J. 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