NYCC Crossbow Alert

[Tinlodge]

Hello,

Tom and I spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in Albany. We attended the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee meeting and witnessed the crossbow bill (S6747A) get reported from the committee. We spent the rest of the day and Wednesday meeting with around 30 legislators or staff members in their offices or outside the Assembly and Senate chambers. I’m happy to report we were successful in gaining additional cosponsors in the Senate and Assembly.

Time is running out. With only 2 weeks (or 8 session days) left in this year’s session, we are hopeful S6747A will come for a floor vote soon, but we still have no movement on the crossbow bill (A9682) in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. Despite all the work and efforts everyone has done, we have not been able to get the EnCon Chairman Robert Sweeney to put A9682 on the committee agenda. Instead, Chairman Sweeney introduced a different bill (A10583) which will extend, for 2 years, most of the present law limiting crossbow use in firearms seasons only, and also adding a new section that will prevent the DEC from enacting any regulation that would allow the use of firearms, muzzleloaders, or crossbows, before or during archery seasons. Sweeney’s bill would also limit youth hunting days during archery season to youth archery days only.

So, time is running out. WE ALL must act. Everyone must again RESPECTFULLY write and call Chairman Sweeney asking that he place A9682 on a committee agenda and that he withdraw A10583. You also need to contact your Senator asking they support S6467A and your Assemblymember asking they support A9682 and oppose A10583. The people that influence a legislator most are the voters from their district, the more they hear from their constituents on an issue the stronger their position becomes. Additional Assembly leadership that should be contacted in support of A9682 is Speaker Silver, Majority Leader Canestrari, and Minority Leader Kolb. In the Senate, please contact Senate Majority Leader Skelos in support of S6747A.

We are prepared to make another trip to Albany if necessary, but Tom, Chris and I cannot make this happen without your help. We have said all along, numbers matter. It is time for our final push. We are closer than ever to getting crossbows legalized once and for all. Please take the time and make the phone calls and write the letters and emails. Even if you have contacted your legislator previously, it is important that you do it again. Most importantly, please be respectful when writing or calling.

Together WE WILL Succeed

Rick McDermott

New York Crossbow Coalition

Assemblyman Robert Sweeney [email protected] 631-957-2087

Speaker Silver [email protected] 212-312-1420

Majority Leader Canestrari [email protected] 518-455-4474

Minority Leader Kolb [email protected] 315-781-2030

Senate Majority Leader Skelos [email protected] (516) 766-8383

Sweeney has moved his extender bill A10583 onto the EnCon agenda for Wednesday, it is imperative everyone calls the Assembly EnCon members in opposition to this

http://assembly.state.ny.us/comm/?sec=mem&id=15

New York State Assembly - Committees, Commissions, and Task Forces

assembly.state.ny.us

New York State Assembly - Committees, Commissions, and Task Forces

assembly.state.ny.us

Hello.doc

[Fanaddict]

Thank you for the info and contacts!! I plan on contacting Mr Sweeney and the other's to show support for bill A10583 and to let them know that I DO NOT SUPPORT bill A9682!!!!

[sits in trees]

I'm on this and will call tomorrow. if they are not available tomorrow i will call monday first thing....i will also get atleast 3 others to do the same, Great Work!!

Edited June 9, 2012 by sits in trees

[Tinlodge]

Crossbow bill delayed. Governor asking if some kind of compromise can be reached