National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses - State Matters

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Notes from the NASC Internet newsletter:
STATE MATTERS? ? ?Feb 1, 2006? ? Volume 4 - Issue 4

New Hampshire Legislator Reaches Out to Form Sportsmen?s Caucus Under the leadership of Representative Elbert Bicknell (R-Northwood), members of the New Hampshire General Court are beginning to unite for the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers by forming a state legislative sportsmen?s caucus.

Though still in its early stages, the legislators worked with NASC and created a letter of intent to stand up for sportsmen?s rights based on a pledge shared through the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen?s Caucus.

In a true demonstration of the proactive spirit behind sportsmen?s caucuses, Granite State legislators are already rallying behind NASC model legislation to ban remote hunting via the internet. Late last week, HB 1420 passed the House Fish and Game Committee. (Michigan has introduced similar legislation.)

Virginia Lawmakers Move on Hunting Bills
Legislators in Virginia have been busy in the opening weeks of their 2006 session ? tackling three bills to address hunting issues in the state. NASC model legislation was introduced as S.718 last week by Senator Kenneth Stolle (R-Virginia Beach) to assist with wild game processing costs for the Hunters for the Hungry program with a $1 fee added to hunting licenses.

Lawmakers also moved H.6 from the House Committee on Agriculture last week. The measure would provide military veterans who have served since September 11, 2001 with free hunting and fishing licenses for a year. The House Public Safety Committee heard testimony on H.705 last week. Following debate on whether or not the state should preempt local bans on hunting, the Committee has decided to temporarily table the issue until input from the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is received.

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Families Afield Legislation
On Thursday, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed NASC supported legislation which creates a youth mentoring program that will allow parents to introduce their sons and daughters to hunting before taking a hunter education course. NASC State Caucus Manager Aaron Hobbs and Legislative Coordinator Sidney Allen traveled to Pennsylvania to join Gov. Rendell as he signed HB 1690 with the members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen?s Caucus. The bill was supported by every memb! er of the caucus and is the first Families Afield initiative to be signed into law. The initiative, developed by NASC supporters National Wild Turkey Federation, National Shooting Sports Foundation and U.S. Sportsmen?s Alliance, seeks to open state hunting regulations and laws in order to get more new hunters in the field at an earlier age and was featured as a key piece of model legislation at the NASC Second Annual Sportsmen-Legislator Summit in November. Photo provided by Commonwealth Media Services.

Florida Bill to Promote Voter Registration Among Sportsmen Advances
Florida Legislative Sportsmen?s Caucus member Representative Bill Evers (R-Baker) prefiled HB 125 to make voter registration materials available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold in the Sunshine State. The bill was passed out of the House Committee on Ethics and Elections with a favorable review. First introduced and supported by the Georgia Sportsmen?s Caucus, the voter registration legislation was adopted by NASC in 2004 and is now being supported by the National Rifle Association.

The Sportsmen's Links State Capitals

National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses * 110 North Carolina Ave, SE * Washington, DC? 20003

The CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S FOUNDATION - The Sportsmen's Link to Congress