New York Senate One House Proposal-Action Needed

[Tinlodge]

ALERT Senate One House proposal, ACTION NEEDED]

Hello,

I just got back from the Sportsman Show in Hamburg and I wanted to let everyone know the Senate has included the Crossbow language in their budget proposal. It would allow the DEC to regulate crossbow use for all seasons and all game, with the exception of Suffolk and Nassau counties and NYC.

Please call and email your Assembly representative Monday or Tuesday and let them know you would ask them to support having the Assembly adopt this language. The budget negotiations are ongoing and they need to hear from everyone asap.

Additional members you need to contact are Speaker Sheldon Silver and Majority Leader Joseph Morelle

as well as Assemblyman Sean Ryan, and Assemblywomen Aileen M. Gunther and Donna A. Lupardo. Please take the time to make this important call.

You can read the bill language below.

Additional information will be forthcoming as things progress.

Best Regards,

Rick McDermott

New York Crossbow Coalition

www.nycrossbowcoalition.com

Senate bill 2608-C

PART KK

13 Section 1. Subdivision 25 of section 11-0103 of the environmental

14 conservation law, as amended by chapter 595 of the laws of 1984, is

15 amended to read as follows:

16 25. "Hunting accident" means the injury to or death of a person caused

17 by the discharge of a firearm, crossbow, or longbow while the person

18 causing such injury or death, or the person injured or killed, is taking

19 or attempting to take game, wildlife or fish.

20 § 2. Section 11-0713 of the environmental conservation law is amended

21 by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:

22 6. The department shall adopt regulations for training in the safe use

23 of hunting with a crossbow and responsible hunting practices. Such

24 training shall be included in the basic hunter education course required

25 of all new hunters. Upon completion of the training by an individual the

26 department shall provide documentation of the successful completion of

27 the course. All persons who have completed hunter education prior to the

28 date which crossbow training has been incorporated into the hunter

29 education program shall complete an online or other training program

30 approved by the department prior to using a crossbow to hunt big game.

31 The department may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to document

32 completion of this program and may require a person to possess such

33 proof while hunting with a crossbow.

34 § 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 11-0719 of the environ-

35 mental conservation law, as amended by chapter 176 of the laws of 1987,

36 is amended to read as follows:

37 a. In the circumstances described in paragraph b the department may

38 revoke any license or stamp, of any person, to hunt, fish or trap,

39 defined in section 11-0701 or issued pursuant to any provision of [

40 ] this article, or it may revoke all of such

41 licenses or stamps. It may also deny such person, for a period not

42 exceeding five years, the privilege of obtaining such license or

43 licenses or stamp or stamps or of hunting, trapping or fishing, anywhere

44 in the state with or without license or stamp, except as provided in

45 subdivision 1 of section 11-0707 or in section 11-0523. It may also

46 require that such person successfully complete a department-sponsored

47 course and obtain a certificate of qualification in responsible hunting,

48 [] crossbow hunting, bowhunting or [] trapping

49 practices before being issued another license.

50 § 4. Subparagraph 4 of paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 11-0719

51 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 436 of the

52 laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:

53 (4) is convicted of an offense involving a violation of subdivisions

54 one and two of section 11-0901 of this article relating to taking of

S. 2608--C 120

1 wildlife when the person taking is in or on a motor vehicle while such

2 motor vehicle is on a public highway or an offense involving a violation

3 of subdivision one of section 11-0901 of this article and subparagraph

4 one of paragraph a of subdivision four of section 11-0931 of this arti-

5 cle relating to taking wildlife when the person taking is in or on a

6 motor vehicle and discharging a firearm, crossbow, or longbow in such a

7 way that the load or arrow passes over a public highway or a part there-

8 of or signs an acknowledgment of any such violation for the purpose of

9 affecting a settlement by civil compromise or by stipulation.

10 § 5. Subdivision 2 of section 11-0719 of the environmental conserva-

11 tion law, paragraph a as amended by chapter 119 of the laws of 1999, the

12 opening paragraph of paragraph a as amended by section 33 of part F of

13 chapter 82 of the laws of 2002, paragraph b as amended by chapter 269 of

14 the laws of 1975, paragraph c as amended by chapter 176 of the laws of

15 1987, and paragraph d as amended by chapter 595 of the laws of 1984, is

16 amended to read as follows:

17 2. a. The department may revoke the licenses, tags, and stamps which

18 authorize the holder to hunt and/or trap wildlife, and may deny the

19 privilege of obtaining such licenses, tags, and stamps and may deny the

20 privileges of hunting and/or trapping with or without a license.

21 (1) of any person who, while engaged in hunting or trapping,

22 (i) causes death or injury to another by discharging a firearm, cross-

23 bow, or longbow, or

24 (ii) so negligently discharges a firearm, crossbow, or longbow as to

25 endanger the life or safety of another, or

26 (iii) so negligently and wantonly discharges a firearm, crossbow, or

27 longbow as to destroy or damage public or private property; or

28 (2) of any agent of the department authorized to issue certificates of

29 qualification in responsible hunting, bowhunting, crossbow hunting, or

30 trapping practices who improperly issues any such certification to a

31 person whom he has not trained, or whom he knows has not satisfactorily

32 completed all of the requirements necessary for such certification.

33 b. Action by the department resulting in the revocation of such

34 license or denial of the privilege to hunt and trap as provided in this

35 subdivision shall be only after a hearing held by the department upon

36 notice to the offender, at which proof of facts indicating the violation

37 is established to the satisfaction of the commissioner or of the hearing

38 officer designated by him and concurred in by the commissioner. Provided

39 that where a person, while hunting, causes death or injury to any person

40 by discharge of a firearm, crossbow, or longbow, the commissioner may,

41 in his discretion, suspend such person's license or licenses to hunt and

42 suspend such person's right to hunt without a license for a period of up

43 to sixty days pending a hearing as provided for in this subdivision.

44 c. In case such discharge of a firearm, crossbow, or longbow causes

45 death or injury to another, the license or licenses shall be revoked and

46 the privilege of obtaining any such license and of hunting or of trap-

47 ping anywhere in the state with or without a license denied, for a peri-

48 od not exceeding ten years, except that no revocation shall be made in

49 cases in which facts established at the hearing indicate to the satis-

50 faction of the commissioner that there was no negligence on the part of

51 the shooter or bowman. In all other cases the license or licenses shall

52 be revoked and the privilege of obtaining such license and of hunting or

53 of trapping anywhere in the state with or without a license denied for a

54 period not exceeding five years. The department may also require that

55 the person causing such death or injury successfully complete a depart-

56 ment-sponsored course and obtain a certificate of qualification in

S. 2608--C 121

1 responsible hunting, crossbow hunting, or bowhunting practices before

2 being issued another hunting license.

3 d. Every person injuring himself, herself or another person in a hunt-

4 ing accident, as such term is defined in subdivision 25 of section

5 11-0103 of this chapter, and the investigating law enforcement officer

6 summoned to or arriving at the scene of such accident shall within ten

7 days from the occurrence of such accident file a report of the accident

8 in writing with the department. Every such person or law enforcement

9 officer shall make such other and additional reports as the department

10 shall require. Failure to report such accident as herein provided by

11 the person causing injury or to furnish relevant information required by

12 the department shall be a violation and shall constitute grounds for

13 suspension or revocation of such person's hunting licenses and denial of

14 the privilege of obtaining any such license and of hunting with or with-

15 out a license following a hearing or opportunity to be heard. In addi-

16 tion, the department may temporarily suspend the license of the person

17 failing to report a hunting accident within the period prescribed herein

18 until such report has been filed. In the case of a non-resident, the

19 failure to report an accident as herein provided shall constitute

20 grounds for suspension or revocation of his or her privileges of hunting

21 within this state. The report required by this section shall be made in

22 such form and number as the department may prescribe.

23 § 6. Paragraphs b and c of subdivision 4 of section 11-0901 of the

24 environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 600 of the laws of

25 1993, subparagraph 5 of paragraph b and subparagraph 5 of paragraph c as

26 amended by chapter 430 of the laws of 2000, are amended to read as

27 follows:

28 b. No person shall hunt deer:

29 (1) with the aid of a dog, or aircraft of any kind; or

30 (2) with the aid of a jacklight, spotlight, headlight or other type of

31 artificial light; or

32 (3) with a pistol, revolver or rifle using rim-fire ammunition; or

33 (4) with a shotgun of less than twenty gauge or loaded with shells

34 other than shells each carrying a single round ball or a single slug,

35 provided however, the use of a shotgun of twenty gauge or larger having

36 a rifled barrel or a smooth bore barrel fitted with a rifled choke,

37 loaded with shells each carrying a single round ball or a single slug,

38 shall not be prohibited so long as only shells having a non-metallic

39 case, except for the base, are used; or

40 (5) with [] a long bow with a draw weight []

41 of less than thirty-five pounds; or

42 (6) with an arrow or bolt with an arrowhead that measures less than

43 seven-eighths of an inch at its widest point or that has fewer than two

44 sharp cutting edges; or

45 (7) with the aid of a pre-established bait pile other than those areas

46 established by standard agricultural production practices; or

47 ( with an arrow or bolt with a barbed broadhead arrowhead.

48 c. No person shall hunt bear:

49 (1) with the aid of a dog, or aircraft of any kind; or

50 (2) with the aid of a jacklight, spotlight, headlight or other type of

51 artificial light; or

52 (3) with a pistol, revolver or rifle using rim-fire ammunition; or

53 (4) with a shotgun of less than twenty gauge or loaded with shells

54 other than shells each carrying a single round ball or a single slug,

55 provided however, the use of a shotgun of twenty gauge or larger having

56 a rifled barrel or a smooth bore barrel fitted with a rifled choke,

S. 2608--C 122

1 loaded with shells each carrying a single round ball or a single slug,

2 shall not be prohibited so long as only shells having a non-metallic

3 case, except for the base, are used; or

4 (5) with [] a long bow with a draw weight []

5 of less than thirty-five pounds; or

6 (6) with an arrow or bolt with an arrowhead that measures less than

7 seven-eighths of an inch at its widest point or that has fewer than two

8 sharp cutting edges; or

9 (7) with the aid of a pre-established bait pile other than those areas

10 established by standard agricultural production practices; or

11 ( with an arrow or bolt with a barbed broadhead arrowhead.

12 § 7. Paragraph d of subdivision 4 of section 11-0901 of the environ-

13 mental conservation law, as amended by chapter 600 of the laws of 1993,

14 is amended to read as follows:

15 d. The use upon land inhabited by deer or bear of a jacklight, spot-

16 light or other type of artificial light by any person who is or is

17 accompanied by a person who is in possession, at the time of such use,

18 of a long bow, a crossbow or firearm of any kind, shall be presumptive

19 evidence that such person is hunting deer or bear with the aid of such

20 light, in violation of this subdivision, unless:

21 (1) such long bow is unstrung, or such a firearm or crossbow is taken

22 down, or securely fastened in a case, or locked in the trunk of a vehi-

23 cle, or

24 (2) the firearm is a pistol or revolver, or

25 (3) the firearm is not in or on a motor vehicle and is a rifle

26 designed or adapted for use of rim-fire ammunition and neither the

27 person in possession of the gun, nor any member of his party, has in his

28 possession any twenty-two caliber ammunition other than twenty-two cali-

29 ber rim-fire ammunition, or

30 (4) the firearm is not in or on a motor vehicle and is a shotgun and

31 neither the person in possession of the gun, nor any member of his

32 party, has in his possession ammunition other than shells loaded with

33 scatter shot of size number four or smaller.

34 § 8. Section 11-0901 of the environmental conservation law is amended

35 by adding a new subdivision 17 to read as follows:

36 17. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this article, the

37 department may, by regulation, authorize the taking of wildlife by the

38 use of a crossbow by any licensed person in any open season, except the

39 use of crossbows shall not be permitted in cities of one million or more

40 or the counties of Nassau and Suffolk.

41 § 9. Subdivision 2 of section 11-0931 of the environmental conserva-

42 tion law, as amended by section 7 of part H of chapter 58 of the laws of

43 2012, is amended to read as follows:

44 2. No firearm or crossbow except a pistol or revolver shall be carried

45 or possessed in or on a motor vehicle unless it is unloaded, for a

46 firearm in both the chamber and the magazine, except that a loaded

47 firearm which may be legally used for taking migratory game birds may be

48 carried or possessed in a motorboat while being legally used in hunting

49 migratory game birds, and no person except a law enforcement officer in

50 the performance of his official duties shall, while in or on a motor

51 vehicle, use a jacklight, spotlight or other artificial light upon lands

52 inhabited by deer if he is in possession or is accompanied by a person

53 who is in possession, at the time of such use, of a longbow, crossbow or

54 a firearm of any kind except a pistol or revolver, unless such longbow

55 is unstrung or such firearm or crossbow is taken down or securely

56 fastened in a case or locked in the trunk of the vehicle. For purposes

S. 2608--C 123

1 of this subdivision, motor vehicle shall mean every vehicle or other

2 device operated by any power other than muscle power, and which shall

3 include but not be limited to automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, trac-

4 tors, trailers and motorboats, snowmobiles and snowtravelers, whether

5 operated on or off public highways. Notwithstanding the provisions of

6 this subdivision, the department may issue a permit to any person who is

7 non-ambulatory, except with the use of a mechanized aid, to possess a

8 loaded firearm in or on a motor vehicle as defined in this section,

9 subject to such restrictions as the department may deem necessary in the

10 interest of public safety. Nothing in this section permits the

11 possession of a pistol or a revolver contrary to the penal law.

12 § 10. Subdivision 4 of section 11-0931 of the environmental conserva-

13 tion law, subparagraph 3 of paragraph a as added by chapter 400 of the

14 laws of 1973 and subparagraph 4 of paragraph a as added by chapter 67 of

15 the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:

16 4. a. No person shall:

17 (1) discharge a firearm, crossbow or long bow in such a way as will

18 result in the load, bolt or arrow thereof passing over a public highway

19 or any part thereof;

20 (2) discharge a firearm, crossbow or long bow within five hundred feet

21 from a dwelling house, farm building or farm structure actually occupied

22 or used, school building, school playground, or occupied factory or

23 church;

24 (3) use a firearm, crossbow or a long bow for the hunting of migratory

25 game birds in Larchmont Harbor, specifically those portions bounded by

26 the following points of land:

27 BEGINNING AT A POINT KNOWN AS UMBRELLA POINT ON THE EAST SHORE OF

28 LARCHMONT HARBOR THEN PROCEEDING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION TO CEDAR

29 ISLAND; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY TO MONROE INLET; THENCE NORTHEASTERLY TO

30 DELANCY COVE BEING IN THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK; THENCE IN A SOUTHWESTERLY

31 DIRECTION FROM DELANCY COVE TO GREACEN POINT; THENCE RUNNING THE AREA

32 BETWEEN DELANCY COVE AND THE WEST SHORE OF SATANS TOE NORTHEAST; THENCE

33 SOUTHEAST THEN ALONG THE WEST SHORE OF SATANS TOE SOUTHWEST AND THEN

34 SOUTH TO THE SOUTHERLY POINT OF SATANS TOE TO EDGEWATER POINT.

35 (4) Use of a firearm, crossbow or a long bow for the hunting of migra-

36 tory game birds in Udall's Cove, specifically those portions of Little

37 Neck Bay within Nassau and Queens counties lying east of a line running

38 north from the foot of Douglaston Parkway to the shore opposite.

39 b. The prohibitions contained in subparagraph 2 of paragraph a above

40 shall not apply to:

41 (1) The owner or lessee of the dwelling house, or members of his imme-

42 diate family actually residing therein, or a person in his employ, or

43 the guest of the owner or lessee of the dwelling house acting with the

44 consent of said owner or lessee, provided however, that nothing herein

45 shall be deemed to authorize such persons to discharge a firearm, cross-

46 bow or longbow within five hundred feet of any other dwelling house, or

47 a farm building or farm structure actually occupied or used, or a school

48 building or playground or occupied factory or church;

49 (2) Programs conducted by public schools offering instruction and

50 training in the use of firearms, crossbow or long bow;

51 (3) The authorized use of a pistol, rifle or target range regularly

52 operated and maintained by a police department or other law enforcement

53 agency or by any duly organized membership corporation;

54 (4) The discharge of a shotgun over water by a person hunting migrato-

55 ry game birds if no dwelling house or public structure, livestock or

S. 2608--C 124

1 person is situated in the line of discharge less than five hundred feet

2 from the point of discharge.

3 § 11. Paragraph c of subdivision 5 of section 11-0931 of the environ-

4 mental conservation law, as amended by chapter 309 of the laws of 2006,

5 is amended to read as follows:

6 c. In the Northern Zone no person, while engaged in hunting with the

7 aid of a dog or while afield accompanied by a dog, shall possess a rifle

8 larger than .22 caliber using rim-fire ammunition or possess a shotgun

9 loaded with a slug, ball or buckshot, or possess a crossbow; but this

10 paragraph does not apply to persons, engaged in coyote hunts with dogs

11 during any open season on coyotes established pursuant to the provisions

12 of section 11-0903.

13 § 12. This act shall take effect immediately.

[growalot]

Sorry..I do not agree with the wording of training course needed......Cross bows being BOWS.....the only training should be the mandatory bow hunting course all bow hunters have to take...Which is separate from the basic hunters course required....

[fasteddie]

As far as the courses go , most of it is safety and 8 hours of that is a bit much . The instructors have to drag it out to make it last 8 hours and repeat everything several times .Why not just cover Archery , Gun and Crossbow in one course .

When my youngest son wanted to bow hunt , he took the Archery course . About 2 weeks before bow season opened he applied for his archery license but couldn't get it because he hadn't taken the gun safety course . He had no intention of gun hunting but that didn't matter . He was up the creek !

I guess it would be up to the DEC to decide what would be necessary for "training" .

[growalot]

I'd agree to that...A fair compromise

[WNYBuckHunter]

I think the training just needs to be put in the general hunters safety course. You will be able to use crossbows in gun season even if you never hunt during archery season, so why not put the subject in that course?

Id be all for adding it all into one course, maybe just tack an extra couple of hours onto it to be able to cover all of the material.

[Five Seasons]

Maybe someone can clarify for me.

1. This is lumped into the budget and not part of separate bill? So those who are voting on the budget; which is far more important cannot take a separate stance?

2. This provides the DEC with the ability to allow crossbows during archery; but does not legalize them during archery until the DEC says so?

Don't need a debate, just trying to understand.

[WNYBuckHunter]

This just provides the DEC the ability to regulate them permanently. It does not add them into archery yet. That is correct.

Im not sure that anyone would even have a stance against this part of it. Youd be surprised how many things happen this way.

[Five Seasons]

thanks for clarifying, and I understand it's all to common in our gov't. Drives me nuts. As far as stance, you can lobby politicians, not sure you can lobby the DEC once they get the power.

that is all.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Yeah drives me nuts as well. Im not even sure why they rolled something like this into the budget. May just be timing, who knows.

[BizCT]

Crossbow hunting on 10/1/13, WOOT WOOT!

[WNYBuckHunter]

Thats not what this does Biz.

[BizCT]

I know, but hopefully the correct end result will occur.

[Tinlodge]

It appears there is confusion surrounding the budget initiative. Most of the confusion seems to be within the Assembly. When I sent the original request out I didn't realize the Assembly didn't know this was in the Senate One House Budget Bill so when some of us contacted those on the list they didn't understand what we were asking so here are some tips.

When you call or email please be sure to state you are calling to ask the Assembly adopts the language in the Senate Budget bill 2608-C Part KK which would give the DEC authority to regulate crossbow use. By specifically addressing that budget bill number and part letter, this will clarify what you are asking for.

I'm told some people have gotten responses from Speaker Silvers office that this is not a "priority" issue. That is the purpose of us making the requests., we need them to make it a priority.

We only have 2 more days to really push for this, they will most likely wrap up this part of the budget sometime Thursday so please make the phone calls and send your emails. If you did this and feel you are getting a response back that is not addressing crossbows as a budget item, please resend the email or give them another call and make sure they understand what you are asking of them. Thank you.

[BizCT]

I emailed them all!

[Tinlodge]

The NYS Senate has introduced language into their Encon budget bill that provides funding to DEC for the creation of a crossbow training program and authorizes DEC to establish crossbow use during archery season. What do you think?

[growalot]

What about small game???

[greg54]

I just hope its finally all said and done with so I can get out and hunt with my crossbow this year. Lets see if the state can finally do something right and make it legal, its been long overdue.

[Tinlodge]

growalot:This just provides the DEC the ability to regulate them permanently. It does not add them into archery, small game,bowfishing or big game yet...

[growalot]

Ohhh I was responding to this....

Posted Today, 10:23 AM

The NYS Senate has introduced language into their Encon budget bill that provides funding to DEC for the creation of a crossbow training program and authorizes DEC to establish crossbow use during archery season. What do you think?

[Tinlodge]

Budget decisions are are being made as we speak and your voice needs to be heard!

 

IT IS IMPERATIVE EVERYONE CALLS both Speaker Sheldon Silver (518-455-3791) and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle (518-455-5373) and ask they adopt Senate Budget bill 2608-C Part KK.

It is extremely important to call your representative and ask they talk to their leadership, especially if they are in the majority party.

 

This is coming down to the wire and if you truly support crossbows we need you to make these calls. The final budget will most likely be completed by the end of the week. Today may be your last day to speak out on amending the budget to include crossbows.

 

This will not happen on its own, we need EVERYONE to make the calls TODAY.

 

I have included an attachment with the list of all Assembly members contact information if you need to find your representatives phone number. 2013 Assembly_Contacts(1).pdf

Edited March 15, 2013 by Tinlodge

[Tinlodge]

We are starting to be heard and we are gaining support from some down state legislators, but, we need more help.

 

If you have not called the Speaker's or the Majority Leader's offices please do it ASAP. You should also send them an email. If you are a bowhunter, please let them know that. If you are one of the many crossbow owners that hunts in other states to use your crossbow, let them know. If you do not reside in NY and wish to be allowed to come to NY and use your crossbow, make sure you tell them.

 

This  is not over, but be aware, those opposed to crossbows are also calling, we must have EVERYONE that supports crossbows call or email so we are heard loud and clear.

 

Sheldon Silver, [email protected];  518-455-3791
Joseph Morelle [email protected]; 518-455-5373

Again, If you are a bowhunter, or former bowhunter, be sure to let them know.

 

I know many of you have already made the calls or sent the email. Please take the time to do it again. We are too close to let down now.

 

Rick

[Tinlodge]

Good Morning,

What we need now is for everyone to call the Governor's office and request that crossbows (Senate Part KK) be included in the budget. We are truly down to the wire as this discussions will be concluded today in order to have bills printed in time to pass by Friday.

We are so close to having this included but it's not a done deal, your continued support and help is imperative.

Please make the call as soon as you can. Time is running out and the negotiations could end at any time.

Governor Andrew Cuomo (518) 474-8390.

Don't forget, if you are a bowhunter, if you hunt with a crossbow in other states, or if you are a non resident and wish come to NY to use a crossbow, be sure to tell them. We must make sure they understand that there are many bowhunters that support crossbows.

[greg54]

I'm going make the call in few minutes....lets hope they do the right thing and get this crossbow thing done with...legal in this state..theres been to many times the crooked politicians listened to the minority...do the right thing this time...make the crossbow legal.

[BizCT]

Git R Done!

[Tinlodge]

"I know everyone has been waiting for some news from Albany. Well, the environmental conservation budget bill was finalized yesterday.

 

Unfortunately, the Senate part KK which would have authorized DEC to regulate the use of crossbows was not adopted into the final budget.

 

I would like to thank everyone for their efforts, phone calls, emails and letters to their representatives as well as the leadership of both chambers to help with the push. Although disappointed in the end result, I am pleased that we were able to keep this issue alive until the very end. That indicates that everyone's efforts were being heard.

 

The next question everyone has "What does this mean for crossbows in 2013? Is the issue dead?"

 

The answer is NO! Now that we are past the budget, the sponsors of the crossbow bills, Senator Gallivan and Assemblyman Ryan, will be amending their current bills, S1699 and A283.
 

What can you do today? 

First, please write to the Senate and Assembly leadership and the members that helped keep this alive until the end and thank them for their support. We need to let them know we appreciate their efforts. A thank you today will go a long way when this comes up in committees. Be sure to also write a thank you to your legislators for their support.
 

Second, we need to grow our membership. Tom, Chris and I have been to 3 outdoor shows this year and we continue to be amazed at the number of people that do not know that NYCC exists and that we are fighting for their right to choose. Being grassroots we only grow through word of mouth. Please pass this along to all of your friends, circulate it through your local clubs, talk to your co-workers. If each member could recruit 5 new members we would have over 6,000 people signed onto our cause.

 

Although crossbows were not included in the final budget, the process elevated the discussion and enlightened more Legislators to our position. Let's take advantage of the momentum we have and move forward, grow our numbers, reach out to more legislators and see this through.." Rick