August 22, 2005

TO: Office of Inspector General

RE: Pennsylvania Game Commission

Dear Sir:

            Please find enclosed with this letter a large stack of documents that pertain to a matter between myself and correspondence with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. I am writing to you because the Attorney General’s office has referred you as the organization to speak to about these matters. The main issue through all these documents along with the copy of the complaint to the attorney general is the abuse of power that the Pennsylvania Game Commission wields towards all citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It all started over the issue of using the Internet for Hunter-Trapper Education. I complained about this and brought out the issue that this is a matter of public safety. However they only see this as a means to reach out to youth that have no time for hunting. After several letters back and forth I was called to the regional office in Franklin, PA. After being told to shut up and follow the chain of command I was told that I was not allowed to write any more about the Pennsylvania Game Commission and their new policy. I was cordial about this assault on my person at this time and left quietly. However what they commanded of me was a violation of my freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. I have a right to complain and I have a right to write about issues. They cannot take these rights away from me or demand from me that I give them up. Further I am a private citizen and for the sake of argument, I am a volunteer for them 10 days out of the year. I do not work for them. I work for DPW and I am a union member of SEIU Local 661. Who are these people that think that they have the power to tell me what to say and what not to write? Who gave them the power to take away my freedom of speech and freedom of the press? They threatened me with taking away my Hunter-Trapper Education Instructor Card for questioning them about the use of the Internet for Hunter-Trapper Education. This all could have been settled quite easily if a some answers would have been shared, but no, they saw no reason in informing the instructors the reasoning behind the switch to the internet.

Another issue is that of the new side arm that the deputy and Officers are allowed to carry. They seem to be bragging up the amount of firepower that they are now carrying with this new .357 Sig. I believe that they have the right to defend themselves in situations that are called for but on the other hand, if they are shooting at people that may have illegal game and are not fired upon, I don’t see that the life of an animal outweighs the life of a human being. This stance that they seems to be taking puts the animals life ahead of the human. Again what right do they have to take human life? Has animal life become more important? I know there are hundreds of cases (many published monthly in the Pennsylvania Game News) where there has never been a shot fired in the apprehension of a poacher. So again, is this new weapon that they carry and brag about another scare tactic towards the hunters and general public or again is this the intimidation by maximum firepower to show us how they can do what they please without any accountability?

Further I am enclosing a recent complaint that will be filed through their chain of command on a recent incident at a Hunter-Trapper Education Course. I would like to know why the Pennsylvania Game Commission seems out to be more like a group of Gestapo that intimidates people and not a group that follows the code of a civil servant? I would like to know who and why they have so much power to harass, abuse and intimidate citizens of the Commonwealth, both hunters and non-hunters? Why don’t they have accountability for their actions?

Sir, I am looking to see that this group, The Pennsylvania Game Commission, have boundaries and accountability. They have violated my rights and from the newest complaint you will see that they violated the rights of others and intimidated and verbally abused minors who were in a class to learn. I pray that you take this matter and help us find a solution to it. My rights were violated and others rights were violated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. They need to answer to someone before this matter totally becomes chaotic and other are harmed by their actions.

                                                            Respectfully,

                                                     Dr. Paul A. Bensur, Jr.

                                                     President

                                                     Northwestern Sportsmens Club

                                                         Instructor # 10876

                                                         Commonwealth Employee # 438218