April 18, 2012
By next Thursday, April 26, all Senate bills must receive the approval of the Oklahoma House or they will no longer be eligible for consideration this session. NRA members' active support has been a key factor in the positive outcome of pro-Second Amendment legislation this session, and is now more important than ever. Please continue to urge your state Representative to support these necessary protections of your gun rights and hunting heritage by encouraging consideration of the following legislation in advance of the impending deadline:
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April 11, 2012
Last night, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed House Bill 2457 into law. This legislation will allow hunters to carry a handgun for self-defense while in the field. This important...
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April 4, 2012
After passing their chamber of origin, three NRA-backed bills continue to garner support in the Oklahoma Legislature. Today, Senate Bills 1760 and 1743 were each passed in their respective House committees with overwhelming approval, while Senate Bill 1420 cleared the House yesterday. Your active support has been a key factor in the positive outcome of pro-Second Amendment legislation this session and is now more important than ever. Please continue to encourage your state Representative to support protections to your gun rights and hunting heritage.
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April 4, 2012
Today, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has signed into law two important hunting initiatives. Assembly Bill 311, sponsored by state Representative Jim Steineke (R-5), and Senate Bill 411, sponsored by state Senator Terry Moulton (R-23), passed by large bipartisan majorities in both houses of the state legislature and will help preserve Wisconsin’s rich hunting heritage.
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April 2, 2012
Today, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin signed three NRA-backed bills into law: SB 149, SB 353 and SB 478. All three laws will take effect on June 8, 2012.
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March 30, 2012
After receiving overwhelming approval in the Senate by a 40 to 3 vote, Senate Bill1743 has come under attack from some state game wardens, and needs your help to pass in the House Agriculture, Wildlife and Environment Committee. Known as the “Landowner's Hunting Freedom Act,” this important pro-hunting legislation would allow Oklahoma landowners and their guests to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. Some state game wardens are taking a page out of the anti-gunners’ playbook, spreading false and unfounded concerns to derail this common sense reform. Opposing game wardens are pressuring Committee members to oppose the bill. It is important that you contact Committee members TODAY, urging them to base their legislative decisions on fact and not fear.
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March 30, 2012
Yesterday, the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Committee unanimously reported out House Concurrent Resolution 30, the NRA-backed Right to Hunt and Fish constitutional amendment that would appear on the 2014 ballot, sending it to the full Senate for consideration. HCR 30 would provide meaningful protections against the anti-hunting extremists who seek to ban all hunting in America.
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March 30, 2012
Thanks to your active support, Senate Bills 1760 and 1743 passed in the state Senate and will be heard next week by their respective state House committees. Please continue to encourage state Representatives to support protections to your Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage.
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March 29, 2012
Today, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed House Bill 2491 into law. This important self-defense and hunting reform will allow hunters, fishermen, and fur harvesters to carry a handgun in the field. HB 2491 passed in the state Senate unanimously on March 15 and in the House by an overwhelming 113 to 8 vote in February.
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March 29, 2012
Today, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed House Bill 2491 into law. This important self-defense and hunting reform will allow hunters, fishermen, and fur harvesters to carry a handgun in the field. HB 2491 passed in the state Senate unanimously on March 15 and in the House by an overwhelming 113 to 8 vote in February.
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March 29, 2012
Today, after hearing your support for this NRA-backed common sense hunting reform, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to legalize suppressor use while hunting. The benefits associated with suppressor use include increased accuracy due to reduced recoil and muzzle blast, protection from hearing damage and reduced noise pollution.
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March 28, 2012
The National Rifle Association's effort to preserve hunting and fishing for future generations has moved forward into Idaho and Nebraska. Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendments will be on the ballot in Idaho, Nebraska and Kentucky this November. The Kentucky Legislature passed an Amendment last year.
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March 28, 2012
Yesterday, the Idaho Senate voted 31 to 3 to pass House Joint Resolution 2a, a much-needed constitutional amendment that would provide meaningful protections against anti-hunting activists who seek to ban all hunting in America. HJR 2a passed the House on March 22 by a 63 to 4 vote. HJR 2a will now be on the ballot for voter approval this November.
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March 27, 2012
The Arizona Senate passed an important pro-hunting bill this afternoon by a 20 to 9 vote. House Bill 2728, which would allow hunters in Arizona to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting, passed in the state House on February 28 by a 42 to 14 vote. HB 2728 now goes to Governor Jan Brewer for her approval.
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March 27, 2012
Today, the Nebraska Legislature passed NRA-backed Legislative Resolution 40CA, the Right to Hunt and Fish constitutional amendment, by a 41 to 3 vote. This action places this issue on the general election ballot this November.
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March 27, 2012
An important pro-hunting bill will be on third reading this afternoon in the Arizona Senate. House Bill 2728, introduced by state Representative David Gowan (R-30), would allow hunters in Arizona to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. HB 2728 has already passed in the House by a 42 to 14 vote on February 28. Passage in the state Senate is the final legislative hurdle to be cleared before going to Governor Jan Brewer for her approval.
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March 23, 2012
Recently, the NRA notified you about the opportunity to attend Texas Parks and Wildlife Department public hearings or to submit public comments online in support of an administrative rule change that would positively impact hunting in the Lone Star State. You now have one last opportunity to weigh in on this debate by personally attending the next public meeting, where the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will vote on the department's hunting regulation proposals. This meeting will be held on Thursday, March 29 at 9:00 a.m. in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Commission Hearing Room, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744.
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March 23, 2012
On Tuesday, March 27, the Nebraska Legislature is scheduled to have the final reading for Legislative Resolution 40CA. This is a much-needed constitutional amendment that would provide meaningful protections against anti-hunting activists who seek to ban all hunting in America, enshrining hunting and fishing in the Nebraska Constitution.
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March 23, 2012
Two NRA-backed hunting bills have made big strides in Arizona this week. Yesterday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law House Bill 2640, which passed in both houses by large bipartisan majorities and will eliminate restrictions on the magazine capacity of any authorized firearm regulated by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Also, House Bill 2728, which would allow hunters in Arizona to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting, has passed out of the Committee of the Whole and is now eligible for a vote in the full Senate.
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March 22, 2012
Today, the Idaho House of Representatives voted 63 to 4 to pass House Joint Resolution 2a, a much-needed constitutional amendment that would provide meaningful protections against anti-hunting activists who seek to ban all hunting in America. HJR 2a will now go to the Senate where it must receive a two-thirds majority before going on the ballot.
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March 20, 2012
Last week, excellent testimony from industry professionals, individual citizens and elected officials was given in support of Senate Bill 301 in the Georgia House Game, Fish and Parks Committee. Unfortunately, SB 301 has not yet been scheduled for another committee hearing and time is running short in this legislative session. If SB 301 is not voted on soon, it cannot be considered on the House floor. SB 301 passed in the state Senate by an overwhelming 48 to 5 vote on January 31. SB 301 would allow hunters in Georgia to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.
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March 16, 2012
An important constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt and fish has been introduced in the state legislature in Boise. The NRA has been collaborating with state House and Senate leadership to produce this much-needed constitutional amendment that would provide truly meaningful protections against anti-hunting activists who seek to ban all hunting in America. House Joint Resolution 2 incorporates the agreed-upon language and has been assigned to the House Resources and Conservation Committee for its consideration.
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March 16, 2012
On March 13, the state House Game, Fish and Parks Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 301. While no vote was taken on this legislation, multiple testimonies were given in support of hunting with suppressors in Georgia. State Senator John Bulloch (R-11), sponsor of SB 301, was the first to speak on behalf of this bill and used personal experiences to advocate for hunting with suppressors. Also, giving favorable testimonies were state Representative Chuck Williams (R-113), who spoke as a citizen; Kevin Brittingham, formerly of Advanced Armament Corporation; and Knox Williams of the American Silencer Association. SB 301 would allow hunters in Georgia to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.
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March 16, 2012
This week, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Congress acted within its power when it removed wolves from the federal Endangered Species List last year. According to a Missoulian.com article, the court case pitted several "environmental rights" organizations against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The environmental groups claimed wolves lost their federal Endangered Species Act protection in Montana and Idaho before their populations had recovered.
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March 14, 2012
With the hope of balancing the state budget and alleviating government deficits on the backs of hunters, the Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee will consider drastically increasing the costs of hunting licenses and stamps. In addition, it is proposing the creation of new resident and non-resident stamps for turkeys. This hearing will be held this Friday, March 16, at 1:00 p.m. in the House Office Building in Room 251.
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March 14, 2012
Today, the Wisconsin Assembly voted 69 to 25 to concur with Senate Bill 411, sponsored by state Senator Terry Moulton (R-23), which passed in the state Senate by an overwhelming 24 to 9 vote. This bill is now with Governor Scott Walker’s desk awaiting his signature. If enacted, SB 411 will create the first wolf hunting season east of the Mississippi since the wolf’s delisting from the endangered species list.
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March 12, 2012
Important NRA-backed bills must be voted out of the state Senate by this Thursday or these bills will be ineligible to be heard in the House. Contact your state Senator today and urge him or her to support and pass the following NRA-backed bills before March 15.
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March 12, 2012
Tomorrow, Senate Bill 301 is scheduled to be heard in the state House Game, Fish and Parks Committee at 1:00 p.m. in Room 415 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building. SB 301, sponsored by state Senator John Bulloch (R-11), would allow hunters in Georgia to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.
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March 8, 2012
A plan that will guide management of the 187,000-acre Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years has been released to the public for comment. Located in Harney County, the Refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to protect colonial nesting bird populations and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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March 8, 2012
The Wisconsin state Senate voted 32 to 1 yesterday to pass Assembly Bill 311, the Hunting Heritage Act sponsored by state Representative Jim Steineke (R-5) which would encourage the recruitment and retention of hunters and trappers through a multitude of creative initiatives. This bill along with Senate Bill 411, which the state Senate passed earlier by an overwhelming 24 to 9 vote, will be on the Assembly floor this Tuesday, March 13.
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March 7, 2012
In a move that negatively impacts Connecticut’s hunting heritage, Governor Dan Malloy has decided that cutting the state’s pheasant stock program has suddenly become necessary. This self-sustaining program is budgeted at $160,000, but in reality draws nothing from the General Fund and would actually cost the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) revenue through reduced license sales.
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March 6, 2012
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed two NRA-backed pro-hunting bills. By a 6 to 2 vote, the committee gave “do pass” recommendations to both House Bill 2728, hunting with suppressors legislation, and House Bill 2640, legislation to eliminate magazine capacity restrictions when hunting.
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March 6, 2012
Tomorrow, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 2 B of the Legislative Office Building (LOB), the Environment Committee will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 83 which seeks to allow Sunday hunting with bow and arrow on private property.
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March 5, 2012
Tomorrow, the state House Judiciary Committee will consider Senate Bill 353, a background reform bill, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 410M of the State Capitol. This is expected to be the last committee hearing before this legislation makes its way to the House of Delegates for a floor vote.
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March 2, 2012
Due to an overwhelming number of bills scheduled to be heard in the Nebraska Legislature yesterday, the final reading for Legislative Resolution 40CA was postponed until next week. This much-needed constitutional amendment would provide truly meaningful protections against anti-hunting activists who seek to ban all hunting in America, enshrining hunting and fishing in the Nebraska Constitution.
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March 2, 2012
On February 29, H.R. 4089, the “Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012” was marked up by the U.S. House’s Natural Resources Committee. This legislation promotes America’s hunting heritage and will positively impact sportsmen throughout the country. For these reasons, NRA fully supports this bill.
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March 2, 2012
In the sort of extremist hysteria one would only think possible in a PETA or HSUS propaganda film, dozens of anti-hunting members of the California Senate and Assembly are calling for the removal of Dan Richards as President of the California Fish and Game Commission. Are these calls for his removal sparked by accusations of malfeasance in public office or the commission of a crime? No! They have been inspired by the fact that Richards chose to LEGALLY hunt a mountain lion in Idaho just like thousands of ethical, law-abiding hunter-conservationists have done before him.
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March 1, 2012
Tomorrow, the Arizona House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on House Bill 2457. If this legislation is passed by the state House it will then be sent to the state Senate for committee assignment and consideration.
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March 1, 2012
A full-inclusion hunting bill is coming before the state Senate Committee on Natural Resources this Friday. Senate Bill 380 would allow all hunters the opportunity to use a crossbow during big game archery season.
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March 1, 2012
Today, the state House Natural Resources Committee voted in favor of Senate Bill 478 with a “do pass” recommendation. This apprentice hunting legislation was then assigned to the state House Finance Committee where it now awaits a hearing date. Sponsored by state Senate Majority Leader John Unger (D-16), SB 478 would create an apprentice hunting license that is available to West Virginia residents and non-residents.
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