On Wednesday, February 26 at 3:00 p.m., the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee is scheduled to consider two pro-hunting bills. House Bill 322, sponsored by state Representative Mark Tuggle (R-81), would guarantee the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife in Alabama. Also scheduled for a hearing by this House committee that day is Senate Bill 240, sponsored by state Senator Roger Bedford (D-6).
Also, on Wednesday, February 26, at 2:00 p.m., Senate Bill 340, sponsored by state Senator Scott Beason (R-17), has been scheduled for consideration by the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. SB 340 is the Senate companion to HB 322, right to hunt and fish constitutional amendment.
By enshrining and enhancing this state constitutional right, Alabama would keep the existing fishing and hunting structure in place while protecting future generations of sportsmen from attacks initiated by well-funded anti-hunting extremists. Specifically, HB 322 and SB 340 would promote wildlife conservation and management. In addition, it specifies that hunting, fishing and harvesting of wildlife shall be used as the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. This proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution would ensure that sportsmen will continue to be used as Alabama’s responsible game managers instead of the taxpayer-funded sharpshooters and unproven, expensive wildlife contraception schemes employed in other jurisdictions. The constitutional amendment would allow reasonable regulations to be implemented, but any regulations proposed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources must also be approved by the Alabama Legislature.
SB 240 would prohibit the use of drones to intentionally and knowingly harass a person who is legally hunting or fishing. When in the field, safety is a sportsman’s primary concern. The use of drones by anti-hunting extremists, with the express intention of spooking wildlife or catching a hunter off-guard, is extremely dangerous and could potentially result in injury.
Please contact members of the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support HB 322 and SB 240. Also, please contact members of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee and ask that they support SB 340. Their contact information is provided below.
House Agriculture and Forestry Committee:
Representative Chad Fincher (R-102), Chairman
(334) 242-7778
[email protected]
Representative Steve Hurst (R-35), Vice Chairman
(334) 353-9215
[email protected]
Representative Richard Lindsey (D-39)
(334) 242-7713
[email protected]
Representative Donnie Chesteen (R-87)
(334) 242-7742
[email protected]
Representative Randy Davis (R-96)
(334) 242-7724
[email protected]
Representative Joe Faust (R-94)
(334) 242-7699
[email protected]
Representative Dexter Grimsley (D-85)
(334) 242-7740
[email protected]
Representative Artis (A.J.) McCampbell (D-71)
(334) 242-7747
Representative David Sessions (R-105)
(334) 242-0947
[email protected]
Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee:
Senator Tom Whatley (R-27), Chairman
(334) 242-7865
[email protected]
Senator Rusty Glover (R-34), Vice Chairman
(334) 242-7886
[email protected]
Senator Billy Beasley (D-28)
(334) 242-7868
Senator Paul Bussman (R-4)
(334) 242-7855
[email protected]
Senator Marc Keahey (D-22)
(334) 242-7843
[email protected]
Senator Shadrack McGill (R-8)
(334) 242-7858
[email protected]
Senator Paul Sanford (R-7)
(334) 242-7867
[email protected]
Senator Clay Scofield (R-9)
(334) 242-7876
[email protected]
Senator Bobby Singleton (D-24)
(334) 242-7935
[email protected]
Senator Phil Williams (R-10)
(334) 242-7857
[email protected]