from Winifred Barnes -
[email protected]
URGENT: PLEASE CROSS POST
House Bill 301 and Senate Bill 83 have recently been
introduced in the Georgia General Assembly. These bills significantly
strengthen hunters' rights while threatening public safety and (in the
case of HB 301) private property rights.
HB 301: HB 301 elevates hunting, trapping and fishing
from a "privilege" to a "right". The bill also provides that there be
"no net loss of hunting opportunity on state-owned lands," and it
improperly withdraws all authority of counties and municipalities to
regulate hunting, trapping and fishing within
their boundaries.
Please write or call your legislators TODAY and voice
the following concerns about HB 301:
1. HB 301 is unnecessary because there is no threat to
hunting activities in Georgia.
2. Any inherently dangerous activity should be a "privilege" and not a
"right." Hunting and trapping are inherently dangerous activities
involving deadly firearms and other weapons, and therefore should remain
a privilege.
3. HB 301 creates a special status for hunters, trappers and fishermen
that is denied to all other participants in sports and recreation.
4. HB 301 threatens the rights of private property owners by authorizing
the Department of Natural Resources to "promote and encourage hunting,
fishing, and other wildlife associated recreation on... suitable public
and private lands of this state."
5. HB 301 improperly withdraws all authority of counties and
municipalities to regulate hunting, trapping and fishing within their
boundaries.
6. HB 301 may violate Article IX, Section II, Par. III of the State
Constitution in that it withdraws a power specifically reserved to
counties and municipalities.
7. HB 301 could mean a reduction in hunting-free parks and recreation
areas for Georgians to enjoy.
SB 83
SB 83 provides that "a hunter education course is not required for a
child age 12 through 15 years who is hunting under arms-length
supervision of a licensed adult hunter age 18 years or older." This bill
was passed by the Senate on February 1.
Please write or call your Representative TODAY and voice
the following concerns about SB 83:
1. Permitting minors to handle and use deadly firearms
without proper training poses an unacceptable public safety hazard that
places at risk the minors, their older companions, and all others in the
vicinity.
2. In an era of dramatically increased incidence of shootings in
schools, it is critically important to both limit juveniles' access to
firearms and train them properly in the use of such firearms.
3. The bill incorrectly assumes that 18-year-olds have the maturity and
training to properly supervise children shooting to kill.
4. As the legislature considers whether to raise the driving age because
of the reckless use of a potentially lethal weapon (cars) by youths
today, it makes no sense to remove a safety course requirement for 12 to
15-year-olds.
If you do not know who your legislators are, please go
to www.vote-smart.org
Andrea Lane
Humane USA PAC: GA Chapter
2482 Jett Ferry Rd. #680 B12
Dunwoody, GA 30338
(770)551-8676 phone
(770)551-0632 fax
Go on to Petland
Campaign Needs Your Help
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