Iowa DNR unfair with its law enforcement

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Rich Leopold wanted an alcohol ban (since rejected) at state park beaches in the Iowa Great Lakes during the Fourth of July celebration. His contention is alcohol, drugs, nudity, fights and littering is a dangerous situation. Park rangers still plan to bring in a state patrol tactical unit, more DNR officers from around the state and local sheriff deputies. I wonder where the DNR is going to get the money to pay for these extra people.

What I call a dangerous situation is approximately 140,000 armed deer hunters turned loose by the DNR every year, with only about 34 DNR enforcement officers for the entire state. There is plenty of alcohol and drug abuse during their hunting seasons. Some of these deer hunters, along with a high percentage of people who refer to themselves as coyote hunters, are breaking the same laws as the partygoers at the beaches, yet the DNR seems to ignore it. I wonder if that's because hunters fund the DNR and alcohol sales do not.

The DNR claims it has no money to maintain law enforcement and park personnel. Yet, the first four months of this year, they spent $2.2 million (according to Conservation Commission minutes for January, February, March and April) to purchase more land that it cannot maintain. Are we being told the truth or just what they want us to hear?

Merle Wilson

Jesup