Contact: Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States and States Program Administrator
On August 24, 2020, two pro-sportsmen’s bills led by members of the bipartisan and bicameral New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus were signed into law. One important bill allows for the firearms instruction of youth under the age of 16-years-old by certified 4-H instructors, and the other expands the use of rifles for hunting big game within Tompkins County.
Assembly Bill 8078 addressed the firearms instruction of youth by certified 4-H Shooting Sports instructors, and was carried by Assembly Member Carrie Woener, who is an active member of the Caucus and a regular attendee at Caucus events. The bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support throughout the legislative process. On the bill passage, Assembly Member Woener stated, “I am pleased to announce that my bill to permit 4-H Certified Shooting Instructors to instruct young people at shooting ranges has been signed into law. This bill will increase the number of qualified shooting instructors in the state and clarify the state’s certification requirements.”
Another key bill signed into law on the 24th was Assembly Bill 8666 (AB 8666), sponsored by Assembly Member Barbara Lifton, another active member of the Caucus. AB 8666 and its Senate companion (SB 8522, sponsored by Caucus Member Senator Pamela Helming) likewise enjoyed strong bipartisan support and as a result of their enactment, hunters in Tompkins County will soon be authorized to use rifles for hunting big game.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation commends the work of all of the members of the New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus who were involved in these efforts.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
