On Thursday, May 28, the Erie County Legislature is scheduled to hold an override vote on Local Law 3-1, Youth Hunting Law. Your help is needed to ensure that the legislators who supported 3-1 continue supporting youth hunting and vote to override County Executive Mark Poloncarz’s veto.
Executive Veto Overlooks Safety Facts
On May 15, County Executive Mark Poloncarz turned his back on our hunting heritage, our families, and state-certified safety data by vetoing Local Law 3-1, the Youth Hunting Law.
His veto is an insult to Erie County’s outdoor community. New York State’s own Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reports zero hunting-related shooting incidents involving 12- and 13-year-olds since the pilot program began in 2021. Yet County Executive Poloncarz chose to ignore the facts, making Erie County the only upstate holdout in New York.
Lawmakers Face Political Pressure to Flip Votes
The good news is that we can override his veto and win this battle, but we must act immediately.
During the initial vote, four courageous majority-party lawmakers, Michael Kooshoian, John Bargnesi, John Gilmour, and Timothy Meyers, crossed party lines to stand up for our youth and voted “YES.” They are now facing immense political pressure from the County Executive to flip their votes to a “No.”
How You Can Help Secure Our Hunting Heritage
Please use the Take Action button right now and forward this critical alert to your family, friends, and fellow outdoorsmen living in Erie County. We need a united front to reach these four lawmakers. Contact them today to thank them for standing up for our heritage, and urge them to hold the line for our youth and our future.
Erie County Legislature Meeting Details
The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in the Legislature Chambers (Old County Hall), located at 92 Franklin Street, 4th Floor, in Buffalo. If you are unable to attend, you can still watch online.
Your actions today secure our traditions tomorrow.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions.
Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
