Crossbow Bill Public Hearing--May 17, 2007 at 8:00 A.M.

[Hot4huntin]

The Crossbow Bill, HB 1334 , has passed the House and is now in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. This bill, if passed, will allow all individuals to use crossbows during our Special Archery Season. The following is the language of the bill:

80R13114 ABC-D

By: Homer H.B. No. 1334

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of crossbows by certain individuals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 43.201(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (d), no person
may hunt deer, turkey, or javelina (collared peccary) during an
open archery season provided by law or by the proclamations of the
commission and during which season only crossbows, longbows, recurved bows, and compound bows may be used unless the person has acquired an archery hunting stamp issued to the person by the department. The
commission by rule may prescribe requirements relating to
possessing a stamp required by this subchapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

HB1334 is scheduled for public hearing tomorrow, May 17, 2007 at 8:00 A.M., before the Natural Resource Committee. The public hearing will be held in Room E1.012, it is the first floor below the ground level. If you are able to attend, please do so. If not, please make a call to the Senators that are on the Natural Resource Committee.

The Members of the Natural Resource Committee are:

Kip Averitt
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t22/dist22.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0122 (phone); (512) 475-3729 (fax)

Craig Estes
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t30/dist30.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0130; (512) 463-8874 Fax

Kim Brimer
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t10/dist10.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0110; Fax: (512) 475-3745

Bob Deuell
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...ist2/dist2.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0102; (512) 463-7202 fax

Robert Duncan
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t28/dist28.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0128; Toll Free (800) 322-9538; Fax: (512) 463-2424

Kevin Eltife
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...ist1/dist1.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0101

Glenn Hegar
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t18/dist18.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0118; (512) 475-3736 (Fax)

Juan Hinojosa
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t20/dist20.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0120; (512) 463-0229 fax

Mike Jackson
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t11/dist11.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0111; (512) 475-3727 Fax

Kel Seliger
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t31/dist31.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0131; (512) 475-3733 fax

Carlos Uresti
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Se...t19/dist19.htm
Austin--(512) 463-0119; (512) 463-1017 Fax

[tinman]

No way that I can make it but I did print out a copy of the current online petition (only 199 of the names that we've actually collected).

I am staying up late and faxing a copy to each Senator's fax machine listed above along with a short statement on my cover sheet.

Please call these people tomorrow and be heard on this.

[Bowwiz]

Thanks Dena,Brian contacted me,i'm going to be there in the morning and do the best i can!

[tinman]

Here's the text of my cover sheet...attached to 11 additional pages of electronic signatures.

[quote:ce76aa1de6]Please note that the attached documents are only a part of the petition efforts of the Lone Star Bowhunters Association and the bowhunters of Texas to show opposition to HB-1334 as it currently reads. This is a current copy of the online petition only (printed at 10PM on 5/16/2007). In addition to this online petition of 199 signatures, we have also collected several hundred signatures at recent archery events and can make those documents available to this committee.

Many have expressed feeling that crossbow has sufficient hunter opportunity during the general season. Therefore, the need to legalize it during the Archery Only season does not exist. The current laws also insure that no one is left out due to physical disabilities, this is not exclusionary in nature and we do not wish to see any change to the current law allowing the crossbow during the Archery Season for physically challenged hunters.

This Bill will only serve the needs of the manufacturer, not the hunter. Currently there is no organization, such as the Lone Star Bowhunter Association or the Traditional Bowhunters of Texas, representing the collective interests of crossbow hunters. That should be an indication that the organized interest is not currently there and that this legislation is not hunter driven.

I

[Hot4huntin]

Still pending...It has not been voted on yet.

[tinman]

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLoo...0R&Bill=HB1334

Failed to pass committee.

[Bossbowman]

Failed to pass committee.

So what does this mean? Is it just delayed for now?