tughillmcd

There is not a separate NYC law. It is the same law as upstate. It is how it is being interpreted, or should I say misinterpreted. Even the majority of politicians in NYC think they are overstepping their authority by supporting this in the Assembly. If the NYC interpretation is allowed to stand, when will other DA's and police departments in other parts of the state start using the same interpretation? And just because they are a separate part of the state, they should not be allowed to enforce any law differently than any other part of the state. It is time to help those that live there, as what they test in NYC, eventually flows to upstate if left unchecked. If NYC want's to have their own interpretation of knives, then they should pass their own law, not change the intent of what is put in place to cover the entire state.

These are pictures of some of the knifes that the DA in NYC has determined to be Switchblades. He is interpreting the same law that exists across the rest of the state. This bill only serves to stop the DA from enforcing what "HE" deems to be a switchblade, not what is commonly accepted to be one. Would you have the same opinion that they are "ILLEGAL" if this was being enforced in the rest of the state?

This has nothing to do with airports. In NYC they are arresting people for carrying the pocket knifes that the majority of people carry. If they see a knife clip on your pocket, plan on having it checked. This bill passed the Assembly 117 to 12. It was advanced to third reading in the Senate on 03/17/2016 and has had no more action there since. People need to make the calls and get this passed. The majority of NYC Democrats in the Assembly approved this. It needs to be fixed and time is running out. Please make the call!

Time is running out for us in 2016. The 2016 legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday, June 16th. Please call Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and request he brings S7005 to the floor for a vote. Please continue to call the office of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman Steve Englebright and request he put A9623 on a Committee agenda for a vote so it can be sent to the Assembly floor for a vote. Call today, and every day until June 16th. In 2014 we were successful in getting the crossbow language we have today in the 11th hour by our members and their friends lighting up the phones in Albany. This is a long shot, but with everyone working together, we can make this happen again in 2016. Remember, We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. YOUR CALLS MATTERS. DON'T DELAY! CALL NOW! Senate Majority Leader Senator John Flanagan 518-455-2071 Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman Steve Englebright 518-455-4804 http://conta.cc/1tel09A

This has already passed in the Assembly and we need to make the push to get it onto the Senate Floor for a vote.

From Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation If you live, work or travel in New York and New York City, please CALL or EMAIL the Chairman of the Rules Committee, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, TODAY and simply deliver the message that you are "calling/writing to respectfully request that Leader Flanagan please schedule S6483A for a vote" and then thank him. Please be POLITE and RESPECTFUL. CALL Majority Leader Flanagan TODAY at: 518-455-2071 EMAIL Majority Leader Flanagan TODAY at: [email protected] Again, please be POLITE and RESPECTFUL, just deliver the message: "I am calling/writing to respectfully request that Leader Flanagan please schedule S6483A for a vote," and then thank him. That's it, keep it short and simple and above all BE POLITE and RESPECTFUL. If Emailing, use the SUBJECT: Please Schedule S6483A for Senate Vote If you call, they may ask you the city and state where you live, for their call record. If you email, include your city and state. In either case, if you live out-of-state, explain how you work in, or travel to, New York / New York City. S6483A adds clarifying bias-towards closure exclusions to the state switchblade and gravity knife definitions, similar to that included in the revision to the Federal Switchblade Act that Knife Rights helped pass in 2009. This clarifying exclusion should prevent the bogus Gravity Knife arrests and prosecutions of honest law-abiding individuals in New York City who are carrying common folding knives, tools that are legal to carry everywhere else in the U.S. Neither Gravity Knives nor Switchblades have a bias towards closure found in common folding knives to keep the blade safely closed in the pocket. Only in New York City has the NYPD and District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. abused the state's gravity knife law to prosecute those carrying simple pocket knives by claiming they are illegal Gravity Knives. The City's Village Voice newspaper found two years ago that there had been as many as 60,000 gravity-knife prosecutions over the past decade! You can read the Village Voice article at: http://bit.ly/1MiJbvv Hundreds of innocent pocket knife carriers are being arrested every week!

Don't take that statement for granted. Those opposed to crossbows are also calling. Call TODAY, TOMORROW and every day until June 16th! We have everything to gain and nothing to lose!

The 2016 legislative session is scheduled to end June 16th. The last few months we have asked you to contact your personal legislators and recently we asked you to write to the chairmen of the Environmental Conservation Committees. Time is running out for us in 2016. Please call the offices of the Chairmen of the Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committees and request they place S7005 and A9623 on their respective committee agendas beginning today. Call today, and every day until June 16th. In 2014 we were successful in getting the crossbow language we have today in the 11th hour by our members and their friends lighting up the phones in Albany. With everyone working together, we can make this happen again in 2016. CALL NOW! Assembly Chairman Steve Englebright 518-455-4804 Senate Chairman Thomas O'Mara 518-455-2091 Newsletter Link

Do you want to see the crossbow bills that are sitting in the EnCon Committees of the Senate and Assembly sent to the floor for a vote? Now is the time to write the Chairmen in both the Senate and Assembly EnCon Committees and request they place S7005 and A9623 on their respective committee agendas so they can be acted upon and sent to the floor for a vote. Don't be part of the silent majority. We need everyone to take the time to write today. If we do not take the time to be heard now, we will again be out voiced by the vocal minority and there will be no changes to crossbow regulations for at least another year. The legislative session is scheduled to end June 16th. Time is running out on getting these bills to the floor. Please take the time to write TODAY! Additional information and sample letters are available on our web page at http://nycrossbowcoalition.com/letters/ You can read our latest newsletter at http://conta.cc/277GQuC

I am confused. Because we are members of this forum, we are automatically part of a "self selecting group",, If I read you correctly, even though you are a member of this forum, you are not part of this same "self selecting group" because most of the people you hunt with are not members. How about the rest of us whose hunting companions are not part of this group either. Why are we automatically pegged as being part of this "self selecting group"? I guess I don't have a clue what your definition is of this so called "self selecting group" and what you are trying to get across with this comment.

There is contact info on the flyer for details about the shoot. I am only passing along the information that was forwarded to me in case anyone is interested. Sorry I can't give you any more details

There is contact info on the flyer for details about the shoot. I am only passing along the information that was forwarded to me in case anyone is interested. Sorry I can't give you any more details

There is a 3-D crossbow shoot May 7th from 8 - 2 at Whortlekill Rod & Gun Club in Hopewell Junction. I know it's short notice, but I just gort the flyer an hour ago. http://nycrossbowcoalition.com//events/whortlekill%20_3d.png

First, I am not discounting this bill, just attempting to put forth a perspective that may be overlooked, and needs to be addressed. Advocacy toward education about the feeling of the sportsmen on poaching overall to the judges and DA's actually is going to be necessary no matter what is done with fines. If all we do is raise fines and not work with the judicial system to give more weight to the infraction, we are not going to affect the outcome we desire. We can raise the fines to $10,000. But without the judges and DA's willing to prosecute or not just plea bargain we are spinning our wheels. The question that always arises from conversations I have with people on this topic is, how do we reach out to the DA's and judges to see what can be done. Telling people to vote someone out doesn't seem to work either. Remember the last election and how many people couldn't be bothered to vote. I am with you that something needs to be done. I am not sure what the answer is, but just increasing fines and penelties is not going to be a magic pill.

I understand and also despise poaching, but not just deer. I have a problem with the guys they catch with piles of fish when the limit is 50, or the guy that shoots a turkey a day early, because he didn't want to take a chance on someone else shooting that big bird. I believe all poaching needs to be addressed equally. I have had many discussions about this with different people and here is some of the different perspectives I hear about raising the fines to high. When we only look at poaching, that is all we see and it makes us mad when they get off easy. When we pull back and look at the bigger picture things can change. What else does the judge have come across his bench in their time there? What may influence them in their decisions to go easy on the poacher, or anyone for that matter? Everyone's first reaction is they know the guy, may be a friend or even relative. I am sure that may happen but consider this. A drunk driver kills a pregnant mother of 2 young children, and all the judge can do is sentence him to is a year in jail because of the circumstances. One day he has a case of child molestation and all he can give him 6 months probation with the evidence they have. Then everything clicks, there is a rock solid case on something really bad, he throws the book at the guy only to have a parole board let them out early, or worse yet, someone wants to reduce the number of inmates in the jails, so back on the street he goes after serving 6 months of a 10 year sentence. So now someone comes before the judge that is charged with shooting an illegal deer and the judge is asked to fine them and put them in jail for a year. That's all he could do to the drunk driver and far less than he could give the child molester. Could this lend itself to a decision to go easy on a poacher? Without knowing why the judge let the poacher off easy, one can only speculation. Judges have to fit a punishment to a crime, and they can see all kinds. Not saying these cases actually happened, but the judge sees many more cases than just the poacher, and it has to weigh on them when a fine for an animal is higher than they can give someone for something more egregious. Not saying it's right, but the entire judicial system is upside down. I am sure there are times the judge is taking care of his buddies, but don't blame them all. We don't know what evil's they were forced to let go.

Don't get me wrong, I am not wanting to change the Wilderness Areas that exist today, But recently there have been additional large tracts of land that were private holdings that allowed some access, and those areas were acquired by the state and shut down to people using them other than on foot. I too used to go deep into the woods, we carried canoes up to 10 miles into the wilderness areas to fish lakes. The Essex Chain Lakes had float plane access to sportsmen for decades as did Lows Lake, and that access has been or is being taken away. There is an old float plane dock in Whitney lake within the West Canada Lakes Wilderness area. That was taken over by the state back in the mid 1980's, and shut down. I am not looking for anything more than having people stand up and say, hunters and fishermen are the countries largest contributors to conservation, and we need to make sure we have a seat at the table and that sportsmen rights and concerns need to be addressed too. As there is plenty of Wild Forests available today, there is plenty of wilderness areas too. All newly acquired parcels should not automatically become wilderness areas, some need to remain open for everyone, not just the young and strong. There needs to be balance. The reason that wilderness areas have little game is the habitat for game in old growth is poor. That is why the Indians used to burn forests and girdle trees. To make habitat for the game to ensure their own food source. French Louie wrote of wintering areas around West Canada Lakes having hundreds of deer in them during the timber cutting hay days of the mid 1800's to the end of that century. This point is not to promote reverting back to clear cutting the entire forest, but to highlight that the Adirondacks are capable of having abundant game and how habitat plays an important role in the availability of that game. I agree, some areas do need to be set aside as wilderness, but some need to be managed for the timber resource as well as habitat for animals. Its' these areas that should have better access for all. Sportsmen will continue to get the short end of the stick until we unite and voice our common concerns. Again, the need for balance.

Sportsmen sitting on the sidelines is the very reason that we have lost the right to use public land for hunting, trapping and fishing and why our gun rights are constantly under attack. Why most of the Adirondack Park land acquired by the state has been classified Wilderness and all access roads are closed, preventing the majority of people from utilizing the land. Why we have to pay a snowmobile trail fee to use a snowmobile to ice fish, when we are not even accessing any trail system. Why trapping is banned in some municipalities Why a dog trial that had been run for almost 100 years in a state forest was shut down because the people riding horses that started using the land in the past couple decades say the guns scare the horses and they don't want to give up one weekend of hunting to let the dog trial happen. There are hundreds of examples why sportsmen sitting on the sidelines has put our backs against the wall. If sportsmen don't put down their differences, and work together where there is common ground, we will get picked off one by one, and with 2 or 3 generations, hunting, trapping and fishing will be a thing of the past.

My agenda is to promote the benefits of hunting, fishing and trapping across NY for: 1) It's economic benefits to the state 2) For the recreational uses of the sporting community 3) To secure the future of all outdoor sports for everyone I will to do everything I can to help preserve our outdoor heritages for generations to come. It is obvious that you do not know me. Although I am the point person for crossbow inclusion, crossbows are a very small piece of my agenda.

I rest my case!

Here is the link to hunter ed class listings. Enter your zip code and it will list the classes that are close to you. Check back often as the class listings change weekly. https://register-ed.com/programs/new_york As for the firearm in your area. many people in NYC have friends and/or relatives that leave their firearms with them outside the city limits. NYC firearms licensing can be costly and time consuming, if you can even qualify. I hoe this helps

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Do you ever take a day off work to go deer hunting? How about taking a morning off to go turkey hunting? How about taking time off because the fish are biting. One of the sportsmen's biggest enemy's stands before us every morning in the mirror. When people are not willing to spend a vacation day to stand up for their rights and to show how much the outdoors means to them, how do you expect any legislator to believe that it is really that important to them? Going to an event on a weekend is easy. The message that is sent when you go during the week is this is that important to me that I will give up a vacation day to make sure I am counted. What is the excuse on weekends when a couple hundred people are all that shows up? It's turkey season, or walleye just opened or it was so nice I went golfing or there's a ball game on or.....? The only reason there will only be a couple hundred people in attendance, is because it is not that important to the majority to be heard. That was evident in the 2014 elections. It is another election year. If you choose to not go to events like this because it is inconvenient, are you going to vote in November? Or is that to inconvenient too. You do not have to go to Albany on the 25th. That is your choice. But don't criticize those that are working to preserve our hunting, fishing and trapping heritage for our children and grandchildren yet to come. Remember your children reap the benefits of our efforts too. And a few hundred people walking the halls in Albany while the legislators are there has a much greater impact on them than having any number of people outside on a weekend when they are not there. Sportsmen need to wake up, unite and work together! We are one of the biggest voting blocks in the state, but far too many are apathetic, and we suffer the consequences of that apathy. I will be taking the day off of work to be there, and I always allow my son to miss school on these day's so he can be there too. The real question is, how concerned are you that as sportsmen we need to stand up and be heard?

http://www.sportsmensalliance.org/news/reframing-trophy-hunting/ Reframing Trophy Hunting Posted on February 15, 2016 Hijacked by anti-hunters, the term ‘trophy hunting’ has taken on a negative connotation in society – it’s time to take it back. Here’s a start to reframing the trophy-hunting discussion with non-hunters. Defining a Trophy When news anchors and the general public throw the term ‘trophy hunting’ around, they’re usually speaking in a very broad sense that assaults their emotions and is an affront to almost everything that modern, regulated hunters and hunting represents. The term is a misnomer, but they don’t even realize it. A trophy is a very personal thing. For some just killing an animal to eat is reward enough. For others, a mature animal that is more wary is the goal. Still, for others, a very specific animal, or at least one meeting very high standards, is the ultimate goal. This is all dependent upon the person, their skill level and experience in hunting (see infographic: “Evolution of a Hunter”), as well as understanding of the species they’re targeting. A trophy is a crowning achievement for an individual. Period. What it’s not The popular myth of trophy hunting is that it’s simply hubristic killing by hunters for display upon a wall – which is only done for a head, hide or horns. The underlying belief is that the rest of the animal is left where it died and goes to waste. This is the perception anti-hunters have created, and which they are framing hunters every chance they get. From “Cecil” the lion in Zimbabwe, Africa, to the proposed black-bear hunt under protest in Florida, anti-hunting activists and organizations cry ‘trophy hunt’ to convey what they believe is the senseless killing of animals – without regard to the associated science, management and ecosystem-wide benefits. It’s an effective tactic that resonates with the public quickly. Those two words immediately generate an affront to the public’s sensibilities, and creates another hurdle we have to overcome to maintain scientific, and not emotional, management of our flora and fauna. What it is The fact is, what animal-rights’ activists portray is not just an affront to the public’s sensibilities, the waste of an animal is a disgrace to the sensibilities of a hunter as well. When it comes to a ‘trophy hunt,’ two points often overlooked by outraged activists, the media and the public include: A hunting season is not state-sanctioned slaughter. Every state has wanton waste laws that mandate the harvest and use of meat, hides or other body parts to ensure that the animal is not just wasted, and that the number of individuals taken is in accord with the supporting habitat and predator-prey balance of the area. A ‘trophy’ animal and its use as table fare are not mutually exclusive. An animal can be a specimen worthy of both taxidermy and the table. A trophy hunter is simply someone who has placed self-imposed restrictions upon themselves that go above and beyond what’s dictated by the state. They are more selective, and will pass on younger animals, often those barely reaching the minimum standard, in a deeply personal pursuit to further challenge their skills and learn as much as possible about the prey they pursue. The irony of animal-rights activists crying ‘trophy hunt’ is that the true definition of a trophy hunter wholly undermines their most egregious complaints about hunting. The self-imposed standards of a trophy hunter often result in the hunter not killing an animal at all, and when one is killed, it is not an ‘unsuspecting’ animal – it is an animal that knows how to survive and that danger lurks at every turn. What it doesn’t do Contrary to animal-rights’ claims, the killing of a trophy animal doesn’t damage the overall population of species by removing important genes from the genetic pool or by throwing the remaining animals into a state of societal chaos. A trophy animal is usually a very mature animal. That’s what makes it so difficult to kill, and what usually results in more impressive antlers or horns, spurs and beards, or other defining trophy qualities. As such, it has reproduced many times over, likely with many different mates, for several seasons, ensuring genetic diversity throughout the population and passing along the quality genes that enhanced its chances of survival and reproduction. Additionally, the loss of a mature animal is expected in nature, and it is quickly replaced within the immediate, as well as overarching, societal hierarchy. Trophy hunting does not damage the overall health of the population. Period. What it does Trophy hunting is the most restrictive, demanding type of hunting. As such, it not only doesn’t harm the overall population, it is wholly within the parameters of a scientifically managed hunt. A trophy hunter will remove a mature animal from the population. That population has been surveyed, and scientifically determined to be able to withstand the loss of a certain percentage of both male and female animals that will result in no net harm to the overall health of the population. Additionally, the removal of the animal opens habitat and resources, such as food and cover, to others within the population. Bottom line At the end of the day, a trophy hunt is a deeply personal endeavor that is in accordance with the individual hunter’s goals, skill and experience level, and knowledge of the animal, its habitat and behavior. It is not a quest simply for a head or horns, but is a severely restrictive, scientifically managed hunt for a mature animal that has served its biological purpose, and one that uses the meat, hide and other attributes of the animal to the fullest, and which supports the ecological health of the overall population into the future. This is the message we must pass to the general, non-hunting public, regardless of whether it’s an old, well-known lion killed in Africa or a record-book whitetail buck in the states. This story first appeared in the October 2015 issue of Sportsmen’s Monthly. To receive your own print or digital copy of Sportsmen’s Monthly, please consider joining Sportsmen’s Alliance today.

Try this link? https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crossbowsurvey If that does not work, try going to our web page and click the link there. Let me know how you make out. nycrossbowcoalition.com

New York Crossbow Coalition will have an informational table set up at this event. We encourage everyone to attend and send the message to the Legislators in Albany, that Sportsmen are an important segment of the population in New York!