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February 8, 2006
Volume 4, Number 5
State Caucus Update
Internet Hunting Bills on the Move
Pennsylvania Caucus Meets with Sporting Partners and Discusses Agenda
Vermont Legislators Formally Launch Caucus
Virginia Caucus Receives NASC Model Legislation Award at Opening Session Breakfast
Internet Hunting Bills on the Move
Maryland and New Mexico have joined the growing list of sportsmen’s caucuses that have introduced legislation to outlaw the practice of hunting remotely over the internet. NASC Executive Council President and Caucus Co-Chair Senator John Astle (D-Anne Arundel) introduced SB 521 on Friday to prohibit a person from participating in the activity in Maryland. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.
In New Mexico, SB 157, introduced by Senator Michael Sanchez (D-Belen), passed the Senate by a unanimous vote on Monday and will prohibit computer-assisted hunting of animals or birds. The bill now moves to the House for a vote.
Pennsylvania Caucus Meets with Sporting Partners and Discusses Agenda
On Tuesday, NASC met with the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and representatives from the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Scholastic Clay Target Program at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Discussion focused on legislative priorities, state habitat programs and how to bring the Scholastic Clay Target Program to Pennsylvania schools.
Vermont Legislators Formally Launch Caucus
State legislators gathered at the Vermont State House in Montpelier last week to formally launch the Vermont Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the 27th in a national network of state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses focused on promoting a pro-sportsmen’s agenda in the halls of state government. Legislators leading the charge to organize a caucus to work on behalf of the Green Mountain State’s 211,000 hunters and anglers announced their intention to create the caucus in September 2005 at the State House celebration of Hunter Appreciation Day. With 27 members of the General Assembly attending the first meeting, the caucus has targeted several issues to tackle for sportsmen in the next legislative session, including shooting range protections and dedicated funding proposals for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. Representatives Steven Adams (R-Hartland) and Gail Fallar (D-Tinmouth) were elected as Caucus Co-Chairs and Representatives Alan Parent (R-St. Albans City) and Kathy LaVoie (R-Swanton) as Clerk and Assistant Clerk, respectively. For more details, click here.
Mississippi Lawmakers Forming Caucus and Passing Important Pro-Sportsmen’s Bills
After attending the NASC 2 nd Annual Meeting in November, Mississippi legislators Senators Stacey Pickering (R-Laurel) and Lynn Posey ( D-Union Church) went home with pro-sportsmen’s legislative initiatives and a new understanding of the importance of forming a state sportsmen’s caucus. Sen. Posey introduced a resolution to establish a sportsmen’s caucus, which passed the Senate on Friday and now awaits expected approval in the House.
Sen. Posey also introduced two pieces of NASC model legislation that have passed the Senate, S 2041 to outlaw remote hunting via the internet and S 2075 which would ensure “no net loss” of state public land available for hunting. The House version of the “no net loss” bill was introduced by Representative Warner McBride (D-Courtland) and passed in the House the same day. Both versions of the bill have been sent to the other chamber for formal approval.
In addition, last week the Senate and House passed legislation that creates an apprentice hunting license for youth who have not taken a hunter safety course to be able to hunt with a licensed adult. This bill is part of the Families Afield initiative created by NASC partners the National Wild Turkey Federation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. The House version of the bill was introduced by Representative Eric Robinson (R-Quitman) and the Senate version was introduced by Sen. Posey. Each version of the bill has been sent to the other chamber for formal approval. For more legislative reports from the Magnolia State, click here.
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