Congratulations and Thank You!

A good number of you have reached out to members of the Legislature. Although some of you reaped immediate results which yielded seven sponsors, everybody’s effort is visibly softening the opposition to dove hunting and slowly increasing Legislative support for it. Keep up the good work, the fight has just begun!

Especially thanks to Jeff Duxbury, Jeff Davies, Dan, George Franke and everyone else!

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Introduction

Assembly Bill 7778 introduced May 15, 2017 authorizes mourning dove hunting in New York. In addition to the primary sponsor, the bill garnered the support of six cosponsors. Although that certainly is a good start, more needs to happen that will require action by a convincing number of sportsmen across the state.

Bronx, NY

Senator Klein from Bronx NY is one of the senate leaders with the authority to “star” (inactivate) any senate bill he chooses. Legislators tend to be more attentive and act favorably to the requests of people who live in their districts. If you live in the Bronx, we urge you to contact Senator Klein in support of a senate version of Assembly Bill 7778.

Brooklyn, NY

Assemblyman Heastie from Brooklyn, NY is one of the Assembly leaders who can “star” (inactivate) any Assembly bill he chooses. Legislators tend to be more attentive and act favorably to the requests of people who live in their districts. If you live in Brooklyn, we urge you to contact Assemblyman Heastie in support of Assembly Bill 7778.

Smithtown, NY

Senator Flanagan from Smithtown, NY is one of the senate leaders who has the authority to “star” (inactivate) any senate bill he chooses. Legislators tend to be more attentive and act favorably to the requests of people who live in their districts. If you live in Smithtown, we urge you to contact Senator Flanagan in support of a senate version of Assembly Bill 7778.

East Setauket, NY

Assemblyman Englebright from East Setauket, NY is one of the Assembly leaders who can “star” (inactivate) any Assembly bill which is referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. Assembly bill 7778 currently remains in this committee. Legislators tend to be more attentive and act favorably to the requests of people who live in their districts. If you live in East Setauket, we urge you to contact Assemblyman Englebright in support of Assembly Bill 7778.

Elmira, NY

Senator O’Mara from Elmira, NY is one of the Senate leaders who can “star” (inactivate) any Senate bill which is referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. Assembly bill 7778 is not yet sponsored in the senate, however when a senate version is introduced it will be referred to this committee, as are all hunting-related bills. Legislators tend to be more attentive and act favorably to the requests of people who live in their districts. If you live in East Setauket, we urge you to contact Senator O’Mara in support of Assembly Bill 7778.

Statewide

It is important, regardless of where you live, that you voice your support for this bill to the five Legislators who hold leadership positions. Assembly bill 7778 will be frozen in the Assembly until the approval to proceed with it is given by the Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and the Chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Steve Englebright. Likewise, once a senate version is introduced, it will be frozen in the Senate until approved by the Republican Leader (Senator John Flanagan), the Independent Democrat Conference Leader (Senator Jeff Klein), and the Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (Senator Tom O’Mara).

Although any one of the five leaders can stop the dove bill in its tracks, there is still hope. The Governor can get around this, but we have to ask him to do so. In 2014 Governor Cuomo put language in the Executive Budget which authorized hunting with crossbows. It is important that everyone contacts the Governor and requests that he takes the same action for mourning dove hunting. (Please put language in the 2018 Executive Budget that authorizes mourning dove hunting).

In your voting district

Legislators tend to be more attentive and act favorably to the requests of people who live in their districts. If you do not live around Brooklyn, Bronx, Elmira, Long Island, or East Setauket, you should determine who your state senate and assembly representatives are and contact them in addition to the five leaders and the Governor.

Summary

This bill has garnered bipartisan sponsorship among seven Assembly Representatives. However, unless the Governor puts a dove hunting proposal in the 2018 executive budget, before the bill will be considered it must gain at least one senate sponsor and be approved by Senator Flanagan, Senator O’Mara, Senator Klein, Assemblyman Heastie and Assemblyman Englebright.

Once a senate version is introduced and approval is granted by those five Legislators the bill will be considered by the rest of the Legislature. However, this will not happen unless a sufficient number of sportsmen contact them and other members of the state senate and express their support of Assembly Bill 7778. Since it is likely this bill will not see any activity in the Legislature it is equally important everyone contacts the Governor and requests he puts language in the 2018 executive budget which authorizes mourning dove hunting. It is also important that supporters of the bill contact the senate and assembly representatives of the voting districts where they live.

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The Petition

The petition which you have signed has made a significant impact on the Legislature. It remains active and we are still collecting signatures. Since you already signed, you do not need to sign again. However, it is important that you encourage your friends that hunt to sign as well. If every signatory gets one other person to sign, we double the impact. Please sign up at least one person who hunts in New York. If you are interested in working a booth on National Hunting and Fishing Day at an event near your home, let us know through our website.