Two anti-hunting bills have been introduced that target hunting rights in Suffolk County, New York, which encompasses most of eastern Long Island. Suffolk county was once a sportsmen’s paradise for hunting, fishing and farming, with a rich history in duck hunting. Now, areas such as the Hamptons and Montauk have become the playground for New York City’s rich and famous.
Assembly Bill 9895 prohibits deer hunting in Southampton on state land that is an adjacent to a property used for wildlife rehabilitation.
Senate Bill 8769 allows the towns of Huntington, Smithtown and Brookhaven to create ordinances to outlaw the use of longbows and crossbows if the town deems it to “be hazardous to the general public or nearby resident.” The bill does not define what qualifies as a hazard.
“Both bills would set a terrible precedent by allowing local governments to enact hunting restrictions, which is the purview of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation,” said Dillon Barto, manager of state services at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Further, these bills send an elitist message that hunters are not wanted in Suffolk County, not even on public lands paid for with sportsmen’s dollars.”
Take Action!
New York sportsmen should oppose Assembly Bill 9895 by contacting members of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee:
Chairman Steve Englebright: EngleS@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Thomas J. Abinanti: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Thomas-J-Abinanti/contact
Assembly Member Didi Barrett: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Didi-Barrett/contact
Assembly Member Keith Brown: brownk@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Chris Burdick: burdickc@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Patrick Burke: burkep@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Robert C. Carroll: CarrollR@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member William Colton: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/William-Colton/contact/
Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Steven-Cymbrowitz/contact
Assembly Member Michael Durso: dursom@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Harvey Epstein: epsteinh@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Patricia A. Fahy: FahyP@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Deborah-J-Glick/contact/
Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas: gonzalezrojasj@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Judy Griffin: griffinj@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Aileen M. Gunther: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Aileen-M-Gunther/contact
Assembly Member Anna Kelles: kellesa@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member John Lemondes: lemondesj@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Jennifer Lunsford: lunsfordj@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Brian Manktelow: manktelowb@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Karen McMahon: mcmahonk@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Brian D. Miller: millerb@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Daniel J. O’Donnell: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Daniel-J-O%27Donnell/contact/
Assembly Member Steven Otis: OtisS@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Amanda Septimo: septimoa@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Matthew Simpson: SimpsonM@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Robert Smullen: smullenr@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Chris Tague: taguec@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Fred W. Thiele: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Fred-W-Thiele-Jr/contact
Assembly Member Jaime R. Williams: williamsja@nyassembly.gov
New York sportsmen should oppose Senate Bill 8769 by contacting members of the Senate Local Government Committee:
Chairman James Gaughran: gaughran@nysenate.gov
Senator George Borrello: borrello@nysenate.gov
Senator John E. Brooks: brooks@nysenate.gov
Senator Michelle Hinchey: hinchey@nysenate.gov
Senator Edward Rath: rath@nysenate.gov
Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick: reichlin@nysenate.gov
Senator Kevin Thomas: thomas@nysenate.gov
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
