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Chair: Tim Meyers, Chair Legislature: April Baskin, Vice-Chair: Jeanne Vinal, Members: John Bargnesi, John Mills, Frank Todaro
by Rebecca Sunshine, League of Humane Voters/NY/Western NY
There are a number of bills in the New York State Legislature that aim to lower the hunting age for big game (deer and bears) from 14 to 12. The League of Humane Voters of NY is vehemently opposed to these harmful bills and voiced our concerns with the chairs and members of the Environmental Conservation Committees where these bills are initially reviewed and approved.
The objective of these proposed laws is to increase the sale of hunting permits, as well as the sale of firearms, ammunition, bows, arrows, crossbows and bolts. Hunting permit sales raise the state’s apportionment of the firearms excise tax, as well as enhance the firearms and bow and arrow industries’ profits, which in turn feed both the federal and state wildlife management divisions of government. The real goal of wildlife management is to increase hunting in order to receive a larger apportionment of thefirearms excise tax. This symbiotic relationship overrides compassion and common sense. It puts lethal weapons in the hands of young children, targets our beautiful wildlife which is slaughtered and suffers greatly for the sake of this greed, and is antithetical to sensible gun control.
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To our great disadvantage these bills are quietly initiated and promoted by hunting groups and organizations, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Governor. But ninety-seven percent (97%) of New Yorkers do not hunt, and a majority support common sense gun laws
as they elected a governor and legislature that supposedly champion this cause as well. Yet most people have no idea that these bills are even being proposed, and putting deadly weapons in the hands of 12 year olds could easily be slipped in under the radar.
LOHV/NY uncovered another frightening aspect of lowering the hunting age to 12 for big game. It could encourage 12 year olds to access or purchase semi-automatics (AR- 15 and AK-47 rifles). These semi-automatic rifles are legal for hunting small game, but are not normally used for small game (though they can be). According to a conversation we had with a Bureau of Wildlife agent in the hunting permit division, semi-automatics are more likely used for big game.
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To our great disadvantage these bills are quietly initiated and promoted by hunting groups and organizations, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Governor. But ninety-seven percent (97%) of New Yorkers do not hunt, and a majority support common sense gun laws as they elected a governor and legislature that supposedly champion this cause as well. Yet most people have no idea that these bills are even being proposed, and putting deadly weapons in the hands of 12 year olds could easily be slipped in under the radar.
LOHV/NY uncovered another frightening aspect of lowering the hunting age to 12 for big game. It could encourage 12 year olds to access or purchase semi-automatics (AR- 15 and AK-47 rifles). These semi- automatic rifles are legal for hunting small game, but are not normally used for small game (though they can be). According to a conversation we had with a Bureau of Wildlife agent in the hunting permit division, semi-automatics are more likely used for big game.
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While we were fighting these bills, the New York State Budget was being negotiated. Quite by accident, and to our shock, it was discovered that Part X, a provision that would lower the hunting age for deer and bears to 12, and expand the use of crossbows, had been inserted in the budget. We now had to urge the chairs of the Finance and Ways and Means Committees, the Majority leaders of both houses and the Governor to strike this provision from the budget. Some of our representatives were not even aware that it was put in there.
We emphasized the point that hiding serious, contentious issues in a budget bill would be a disservice to all. We also stressed the fact that this bill would benefit the firearms and bow and arrow industries, but would be detrimental to the public and environment. We expressed our fear that lowering the hunting age would incentivize the purchase and use of lethal weapons (such as AR-15s and AK-47s) for children at a time when the country is seeking ways to ban them.
LOHV/NY was joined by the following concerned organizations in the last ditch effort to stop this bill: Animal Cruelty Exposure Fund, Animal Defenders of Westchester, East Hampton Group for Wildlife, League of Humane Voters New Jersey, NYCLASS, People for the End of Animal Cruelty and Exploitation, Their Turn, Wildlife Preservation Coalition of Eastern Long Island, and Wildlife Watch. Many of these groups assisted LOHV/NY in sending out alerts via email and social media urging their members to contact the appropriate representatives.
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The end result of this campaign was that Part X evolved into Part ZZ. The highlights of Part ZZ are:
- Turned an imposed statewide lower hunting age into an opt-in pilot program for each New York county that will expire in two (2) years and seven (7) months.
- Made the five (5) New York City Boroughs (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island), Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties) and Westchester County ineligible to opt-in to the pilot program.
- Removed the hunting of bears from the pilot program.
- Allowed 12 and 13 year olds to use crossbows for the duration of the pilot for deer, whereas Part X would have allowed them to use crossbows for any species in perpetuity.
While we were disappointed that Part X wasn’t entirely removed from the budget, we were relieved to see that some concessions were made. We were encouraged that our representatives did take their time to listen to us and took our concerns seriously. Being able to stop any pro- hunting law is an accomplishment.
LOHV/NY initiated a major outreach urging the County Executives, County Managers, officials and legislatures of the fifty- four (54) eligible counties not to opt- in to the pilot program. It was noted that those counties that do opt-in, may likely get an influx of hunters from those counties that are ineligible,
which would have negative consequences for the environment, wildlife and public safety. Additional letters were sent to the officials of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Richmond, Sullivan and Ulster Counties, as they are the closest to the downstate counties that are not eligible and may be most impacted. We also asked that this pilot program be well publicized before a decision is made.
To cover all bases, press releases were sent, as well as state-wide alerts asking residents of the eligible counties to contact their officials. As of now eighteen (18) counties have opted in.
LOHV/NY spoke at the Erie County Energy and Environmental Committee meeting. They will be holding a meeting of the full legislature where this will be discussed.
We will watch the developments in the remaining counties, as well as how the DEC plans to monitor and report on this pilot program once it is enacted. And we will keep an eye on the original stand-alone bills to be sure they will not be pushed through.
We learned that we have to be extra diligent and keep our antennas up, because the hunting and gun lobbies, and the DEC, will not stop at any tactic to expand their programs and profits. SNEAKING BILLS INTO A BUDGET IS JUST ONE OF THEM.
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Rebecca Sunshine is on the Planning Board of the League of Humane Voters/NY. She abhors hunting and has worked to stop hunts locally and at a state level.
The Mission of the League of Humane Voters® (LOHV) is to create, unite, and strengthen local political action committees, which work to enact animal-friendly legislation and elect candidates for public office who will use their votes and influence for animal protection.
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