The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 (16 U.S.C. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Code> 668-668d) protects the eagle, alive or dead, or any part of the eagle, its nest and eggs. This act provides for criminal penalties for persons who "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner," anything previously mentioned related to the eagle. The act as amended stipulates the maximum penalty for an individual may involve prison time and as much as $100,000 for a misdemeanor and $250,000 for a felony conviction. For an organization the maximum penalty can be as much as $200,000 for a misdemeanor and $500,000 for a felony conviction.

As we observe abortion advocates celebrating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and reflect upon the 50 million babies aborted in the United States during the past 40 years, one can't help but wonder why is the embryo of an eagle in an egg more valuable than a child in the womb?

James E. Haider Jr.

O'Fallon