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-- New York Houndsmen Call To Action (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=928518862)

New York Houndsmen Call To Action

Per request of the Sportsmen's Alliance:

New York Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick (D-Greenwich Village) and Senator Monica Martinez (D- Brentwood) have both introduced legislation (Assembly Bill 722/Senate Bill 4253) that would ban wildlife hunting contests. Both bills were recently amended to exempt field trials after hearing complaints from the Sportsmen’s Alliance, Associated Dog Clubs of New York State, New York Masters of Foxhounds and many other New York sportsmen.

Take Action Today! New York members should contact their assembly member and state senator and ask them to vote NO on Assembly Bill 722 and Senate Bill 4253. Members can contact their assembly member and state senator by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Center.

Current New York law allows for hunting competitions, such as coyote hunting contests (big coon contest), to take place in the state. Legislation like AB 722 and SB 4253 are part of a national push supported by animal-rights groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which are seeking to end hunting contests nationwide. Currently there are seven other states where anti-hunting contest legislation/regulations have been introduced: Arizona, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

Under the New York bills, any person or organization caught participating, organizing or promoting any contest, competition, tournament or derby that takes or hunts wildlife for prizes or entertainment will face a year of jail time and/or be faced with a fine between $500 and $2000 per violation. As a result, any hunter who buys dinner for the most pheasants, ducks, coyotes or the biggest coon harvested would be in violation of the law and face jail time.

“AB 722 and SB 4253 are the animal-rights movement’s attempt to skirt sound wildlife management laws with the threat to fine and jail people to discourage them from hunting,” said Bruce Tague, vice president of government affairs for Sportsmen’s Alliance. “That a friendly bet over which hunter trees the first racoon is suddenly worth incarceration is an extremist proposal to say the least. It is our hope that both chambers see the negative impacts these bills will have on the recruitment of new hunters and the slippery slope New York will face as it heads toward terminating all forms of hunting in the state.”

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If we're not suppose to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?

Hey Todd, Thanks for engaging. Unfortunately, there is not an address for the Encon Committee. We are sending letters to all members at once to their emails or via fax. They are planning on an off the floor meeting today, not sure what time, but session starts at 2pm so that would be the deadline. . Also, I have attached a listing with with each member’ phone numbers, if you could get that out to your folks and ask them to light up the phones this am and oppose AB 722, that would be great as well. Let me now if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks again!


Phone numbers:

Steve Englebright (D) [Chair] 518-455-4804 Melissa L. Miller (R) 518-455-3028
Thomas J. Abinanti (D) 518-455-5753 Anthony H. Palumbo (R) 518-455-5294
Didi Barrett (D) 518-455-5418 Andrew P. Raia (R) 518-455-5952
Patrick Burke (D) 518-455-4691 Jamie Romeo (D) 518-455-5373
Anthony D'Urso (D) 518-455-5192 Sean Ryan (D) 518-455-4886
Patricia A. Fahy (D) 518-455-4178 Robert Smullen (R) 518-455-5393
Aileen M. Gunther (D) 518-455-5355 Dan Stec (R) 518-455-5565
Michael LiPetri (R) 518-455-5305 Chris Tague (R) 518-455-5363
Barbara Lifton (D) 518-455-5444 Fred W. Thiele (I) 518-455-5963

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If we're not suppose to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?