New legislation would allow people to kill mountain lions

Intro:	Mountain lions can outrun, outjump, and potentially harm humans, but currently it's illegal to kill these animals.
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Wrap: If this legislation passes, killing a mountain lion would be legal, as long as you turn the carcass in within 24 hours.

Bill sponsor Bill Stouffer says these animals should not be considered wildlife.

Actuality:	MTNLION.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "Define mountain lion as an invasive species and not wildlife, that way we can get out of any Constitutional problems."

Animal advocacy groups say they oppose this bill.

Stuart P. Keating says the animals are native, so killing them isn't right.

Actuality:	MTNLION3.WAV
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Description: "We would like to point out Mountain lions had been sighted here long before American settlement, so that really begs the question, who is the invasive species?"

Half of the confirmed sightings in the state happened last year.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Stacey Kafka.

Intro:	Missouri's mountain lion population is on the rise, prompting legislation allowing the killing of these big cats.
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Wrap: It is currently illegal to kill a mountain lion, but proposed legislation would make some drastic changes to the state's laws.

If this legislation passes, killing a mountain lion would be legal, as long as you turn the carcass into the Department of Conservation within 24 hours.

Bill sponsor Bill Stouffer says these animals should not be considered wildlife.

Actuality:	MTNLION.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "It would define mountain lion as an invasive species and not wildlife. That way we could get out of any constitutional problems."

Since 1994 the Department confirmed 28 mountain lion sightings, half of these in the last year.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Stacey Kafka.

Intro:	It's currently illegal to kill a mountain lion, but some senators look to change the law.
RunTime:	0:31
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: New legislation would allow the killing of mountain lions.

Supporters of the bill say these animals are dangerous for people, especially toddlers.

Aaron Jeffries of the Missouri Department of Conservation says although the Department released a lion last year, they aren't planning on helping the population grow.

Actuality:	MTNLION2.WAV
Run Time:	00:05
Description: "The Department has no intention of reintroducing mountain lions into the state."

14 of the 28 mountain lion sightings in the last decade happened last year.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Stacey Kafka.