In a lively discussion of House Bill 1419, Bat Protection Act, bill sponsor Rep. George Cleveland, R-Onslow, makes the argument for Wildlife Commission education on bats and protection and regulation of what several members call flying rats.
Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, asks if private homeowners will be affected (they won’t ? you can still kill bats in your attic) and also asks if the bill in any way will affect the Joker, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, or any of the others (it won’t).
Rep. Thomas Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, says bats eat their weight in insects, and if you dislike mosquitoes you should like this bill.
Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, raises concerns that offering special protection for bats may interfere with homeowners’ rights.
Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, asks if the representative from Transylvania would like to comment (he doesn’t).
Rep. Lewis asks Rep. Dan Blue, D-Wake, who earlier in the day spoke in favor of bills ensuring homeowners’ rights, if he thought bats’ rights would be endangered under this bill. Rep. Blue said it depends: What are that bat’s rights? Is it an American bat or a Transylvanian bat?
So with assurances that bat, homeowner, and Batman character rights will remain intact, the bill passes 102-12 and flies over to the Senate cave for consideration.
