Assembly Bill 2571 (AB 2571), a bill that will prohibit hunter and firearm education programs for minors, will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, May 11. It is imperative that sportsmen make their voices heard on this draconian measure by reaching out to the committee members listed below and asking that youth hunter programs be saved.
Although Gov. Newsom and others claim this overreaching measure is meant to ban “marketing” firearms directly to youth, this is nothing but political eyewash. AB 2571 casts a wide net over any youth program that promotes the use of firearms by a member of the “firearms industry.”
The bill defines “firearm industry” broadly to include organizations formed for the purpose of “… promoting, encouraging, or advocating for the purchase, use, or ownership of firearm-related products.” This obviously includes nearly all hunting organizations.
The penalties under AB 2571 are extreme. Each violation is subject to a $25,000 fine and the bill even allows private citizens to file civil lawsuits to enforce its provisions.
Does this mean that many hunter education programs are on the chopping block? Of course. And what about a youth-oriented sporting clays shoot sponsored by a hunting organization? Yep, that would be banned as well.
As always, the devil is in the details, and the language of AB 2571 is clearly meant to destroy our hunting heritage by prohibiting the recruitment of young people into the fold. It’s time we stood up and made our voices heard.
ACT NOW! Please act now to save youth hunting programs in California by contacting the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Chairman Chris R. Holden: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD41&inframe=N
Vice-Chair Frank E. Bigelow: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD05&inframe=N
Assembly Member Isaac G. Bryan: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD54
Assembly Member Lisa Calderon: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD57&inframe=N
Assembly Member Wendy Carrillo: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD51&inframe=N
Assembly Member Megan Dahle: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD01&inframe=N
Assembly Member Laurie Davies: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD73&inframe=N
Assembly Member Mike Fong: https://a49.asmdc.org/contact
Assembly Member Vince Fong: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD34&inframe=N
Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD45&inframe=N
Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD56&inframe=N
Assembly Member Marc Levine: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD10&inframe=N
Assembly Member Bill Quirk: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD20&inframe=N
Assembly Member Robert Rivas: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD30&inframe=N
Assembly Member Akilah Weber: https://a79.asmdc.org/contact
Assembly Member Lori D. Wilson: https://a11.asmdc.org/contact
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.
