Take Action to Defeat Youth Hunting Bill in NY State

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New York's State Senate Bill 1284, to allow 14- and 15-year-olds to hunt "big game" (i.e. large mammals) with firearms under mentoring, passed the State Senate with overwhelming support. Its companion bill in the State Assembly, A733a, is now sitting in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. There are many reasons we need to stop this bill from passing:

1. Most human hunting deaths occur while hunting deer and bears, and these bills invite children into the "big game" arena. Youths are not permitted to marry, drive, or drink alcohol at age 14, and New York State should not be in the business of allowing youths to handle weapons, placing them in mortal danger and killing animals. Even with a "mentor" by their side, children can be impulsive and lack sound judgment.

2. An upstate pro-hunting daily newspaper (Post Standard, Syracuse, NY 3/2003) reported that according to the Department of Conservation, the firearms injury rate per participant is relatively high among the youngest hunters compared to other age groups.

3. Some children who are familiar with weapons have used them for suicide and/or shooting sprees involving people.

4. Instead of bowing to the powerful hunting lobby by encouraging children to kill animals, the legislature should promote humane education efforts that teach children how to respect other species.

Please Take Action to urge Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to use his authority as the leader of the State Assembly to defeat A733a. In addition, it is important to send a written letter to Speaker Silver because his office is getting bombarded with notes from hunters who want the bill passed. You can edit and print out the sample letter from this alert after sending it, or write a letter of your own.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
932 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
Tel: (518)[masked]
Email: [address removed]

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