Posted on 01/28/2012 6:17:16 AM PST by marktwain
RICHMOND, VA -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) – the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry – is applauding the passage of legislation (SB 464) to end the ban on Sunday hunting in the Old Dominion. Yesterday, the Virginia State Senate overwhelming voted (29-11) to allow Sunday hunting on private lands. Companion legislation will now move to the House of Delegates for a vote.
“Yesterday’s vote was a great step forward in our campaign to allow Sunday hunting in Virginia,” said National Shooting Sports Foundation Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. “We applaud Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) for his fortitude and resolve in championing this bill through the Virginia State Senate.”
NSSF is encouraging all sportsmen in Virginia to contact their state delegates and urge them to support SB 464. This legislation is limited to private lands and public marshes only and excludes deer hound hunting.
Allowing sportsmen in Virginia to go afield on Sundays is part of larger effort to increase participation in hunting that also involves improving access and opportunity for sportsmen living in the state. Since most hunters take to the field on weekends, removing barriers to Sunday hunting will effectively double the value of most hunters’ licenses.
The benefits of Sunday hunting, however, would not be limited to the sportsmen’s community. An economic impact report released by a coalition of America’s leading conservation, sportsmen’s and hunting organizations has found that removal of Sunday hunting restrictions would result in an estimated 3,927 new Virginia jobs. The report also notes that these jobs would pay more than $105 million in wages and contribute more than $296 million in additional economic activity to the commonwealth. Given this potential economic boom, the coalition is moving forward rapidly.
“With yesterday’s victory in the State Senate, we are now moving our focus to the House of Delegates,” said NSSF Director of Government Relations Jake McGuigan. “Given that hunting license sales in Virginia have dropped from 500,000 in the mid 1970′s to 300,000 today, we need to educate sportsmen that in order to save one tradition, we need to modify another.”
NSSF is a member of the Sunday hunting coalition which includes the National Rifle Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Archery Trade Association, Bass Pro Shops, Boone and Crockett Club, Cabela’s, Delta Waterfowl, Mule Deer Foundation, National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Quality Deer Management Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and the Wildlife Management Institute.
So now nothing in creation gets a day of rest.
They should be spending their time FIXING the law and returning democratic norms to our processes.
It's time to KICK FASCISM and FASCISTS out of Virginia!
Creation will now get five days (M-F) of rest instead of six.
“Blue” laws are stupid and outdated.
You are exactly right. There is no excuse or good reason to have to hunt game seven days a week. As sportsmen and women, we should realize that the animals deserve a break for one day a week. Also, it respects our neighbors that may not want to hear shooting on Sundays. Just one more sign of the decline of the American society.
“We applaud Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) for his fortitude and resolve in championing this bill through the Virginia State Senate.”
This Nanny-state socialist represents the Eastern Shore also,but don’t have the population or the votes to get rid of him....yup, he’s a Dem from Norfolk, alright.
So animals take Sunday off from preying on and eating each other? Who knew?
Is shooting skeet or target practice on Sundays currently illegal where you live? For that matter is fishing illegal on Sundays?
There’s no excuse for keeping your neighbors from doing something legal and enjoyable just because you don’t like it. And if you don’t like to hear the sounds of shooting on Sunday’s I suggest you not live in the country or in Baltimore City ; )
No, this is not something to keep our minds off the primary law. It is to allow sunday hunting, something which we’ve been trying to get for a long time.
Yes there is. Most hunters have to work mon-fri, many on sat. The deer season is short as it is, this allows for father-son hunting to get a much deserved break. To think this has anything to do with the decline of America is just absurd.
Be careful what you wish for you just might get it. I live in Virginia and have allowed hunting on my property. If this Bill passes the House of Delegates I will POST ALL of my land. You HAD 6 days, now you will have NONE! There will be NO SUNDAY HUNTING on my property. Is that what you wished for?
I’m not against doing things on Sunday, but my wife likes to enjoy a day of peace walking the property without fear of being shot, and so do I. I don’t want to have to wear blaze orange when cutting firewood.
This law is inconsiderate of the LANDOWNERS! How are they going to stop hunting with deer dogs on Sunday when the dogs are in the field continuously during firearms season? Ever hear of the straw that broke the camel’s back? Be careful what you wish for, you just might LOSE EVERYTHING!
With Bolling presiding over the Senate the sole purpose is to take our minds off the fact he’s a Fascist Pig.
Hey, it’s your land, do what you want with it. I don’t hunt deer anymore anyway. I do know that the hunters and clubs I’ve hunted with, are all for sunday hunting.
There’s no excuse for keeping your neighbors from doing something legal and enjoyable just because you don’t like it. And if you don’t like to hear the sounds of shooting on Sunday’s I suggest you not live in the country or in Baltimore City ; )
My neighbors and I are all land owners, and all feel the same way about the subject. We will not move because of a few, but will post our ground if this law comes here to PA.
I fully support your right as a land owner not to allow Sunday hunting on your property. I also fully support land owners who want to allow Sunday hunting to allow it. It should not be the role of government to prohibit hunting on Sundays because of archaic and outdated “Blue” laws. To each their own.
I’d recommend that you work with local hunters to post your land and establish rules for its use. They will typically act as good wardens in posting and monitoring your property, and you will know who is using it ...under your terms.
Agreed.
I disagree
You left out father-daughter hunting trips or mother-son and mother-daughter hunting trips. :) ,
My dad and I never hunted but we did share some wonderful times fishing on the Chesapeake on some early beautiful Sunday mornings.
I have no idea how he slipped into office ~ which proves how devious and sneaky he is. We must purge him from politics.
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