Post by galthatfishes on Sept 10, 2014 19:51:58 GMT -5
Are doves next? Peasant???
www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2014/09/10/Animal-rights-group-takes-aim-at-pigeon-shoots-in-Pa/stories/201409090220
HARRISBURG — A group opposed to organized pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania hopes a new television commercial featuring Bob Barker will lead to a law that would ban such “brutal acts.”
“Live pigeon shoots held in Pennsylvania are horrific, brutal acts of animal cruelty,” the famed former television game show host says in the 30-second commercial, over footage of wounded and dead birds.
The spot begins airing on cable networks this week and is sponsored by Illinois-based SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK). Mr. Barker, a well-known animal rights advocate, gave the organization a $1 million grant several years ago to fight pigeon shoots.
Supporters of such legislation say the shoots often leave wounded birds to die slowly and painfully. Bills addressing the issue have been kicking around the Capitol in one form or another for more than 20 years.
The most recent, House Bill 1750, originally addressed the slaughtering or selling of dogs or cats for human consumption and passed the House unanimously last year. The portion of the bill addressing pigeon shoots was inserted in the Senate judiciary committee. If the latest version of the bill passes the Senate, the legislation would have to return to the House for a concurrence vote.
But the bill’s fate is unsettled.
“Entering the final four weeks of the current legislative session, the General Assembly will be urged to send hundreds of bills to the governor’s desk. House Bill 1750 remains under active discussion,” said Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi.
“If a bill comes back from the Senate, we’ll review it,” said Steve Miskin, a spokesman for House Republicans, who hold the majority in the chamber.
Gov. Tom Corbett’s office did not return a call seeking comment.
In her 20 years of lobbying on this issue, “this is the farthest the bill has gotten,” said Heidi Prescott, senior vice president of campaigns and outreach at The Humane Society of the United States. Legislation has been reintroduced every legislative session in Pennsylvania for 26 years to address the issue.
“Pennsylvanians don’t support cruelty to animals,” Ms. Prescott said. “It is time for the Pennsylvania Legislature to end this barbaric practice, [which] has nothing to do with hunting. This has more in common with cockfighting and dog fighting than it does with hunting.”
Ms. Prescott said the practice is illegal in most other states, where it is either specifically prohibited by law or by interpretation of other states’ animal cruelty statutes.
Opposition to Pennsylvania’s legislation has come from the National Rifle Association and sportsmen’s groups.
“Pigeon shooting is a traditional shooting sport and has many participants throughout the commonwealth and around the world. Shoots have been held in Pennsylvania for more than 100 years, and their participants are law-abiding, ethical shooting enthusiasts,” according to a statement on the website of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, which urged NRA members to contact their senators and representatives and oppose the ban.
One of those traditional shoots took place every Labor Day in Hegins, Schuylkill County, from 1934 through 1998. Although that public shoot was shut down by its sponsors and the Pennsylvania courts, others still take place, under the radar, at some of Pennsylvanians private rod and gun clubs.
The NRA did not respond to a request for comment on the new ad campaign.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair, said the bill will not affect “any hunting activity or game activity.” Mr. Maher said he was unfamiliar with the ad campaign but hopes it will help move the legislation.
For more information about the campaign, go to www.sharkonline.org.
www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2014/09/10/Animal-rights-group-takes-aim-at-pigeon-shoots-in-Pa/stories/201409090220
HARRISBURG — A group opposed to organized pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania hopes a new television commercial featuring Bob Barker will lead to a law that would ban such “brutal acts.”
“Live pigeon shoots held in Pennsylvania are horrific, brutal acts of animal cruelty,” the famed former television game show host says in the 30-second commercial, over footage of wounded and dead birds.
The spot begins airing on cable networks this week and is sponsored by Illinois-based SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK). Mr. Barker, a well-known animal rights advocate, gave the organization a $1 million grant several years ago to fight pigeon shoots.
Supporters of such legislation say the shoots often leave wounded birds to die slowly and painfully. Bills addressing the issue have been kicking around the Capitol in one form or another for more than 20 years.
The most recent, House Bill 1750, originally addressed the slaughtering or selling of dogs or cats for human consumption and passed the House unanimously last year. The portion of the bill addressing pigeon shoots was inserted in the Senate judiciary committee. If the latest version of the bill passes the Senate, the legislation would have to return to the House for a concurrence vote.
But the bill’s fate is unsettled.
“Entering the final four weeks of the current legislative session, the General Assembly will be urged to send hundreds of bills to the governor’s desk. House Bill 1750 remains under active discussion,” said Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi.
“If a bill comes back from the Senate, we’ll review it,” said Steve Miskin, a spokesman for House Republicans, who hold the majority in the chamber.
Gov. Tom Corbett’s office did not return a call seeking comment.
In her 20 years of lobbying on this issue, “this is the farthest the bill has gotten,” said Heidi Prescott, senior vice president of campaigns and outreach at The Humane Society of the United States. Legislation has been reintroduced every legislative session in Pennsylvania for 26 years to address the issue.
“Pennsylvanians don’t support cruelty to animals,” Ms. Prescott said. “It is time for the Pennsylvania Legislature to end this barbaric practice, [which] has nothing to do with hunting. This has more in common with cockfighting and dog fighting than it does with hunting.”
Ms. Prescott said the practice is illegal in most other states, where it is either specifically prohibited by law or by interpretation of other states’ animal cruelty statutes.
Opposition to Pennsylvania’s legislation has come from the National Rifle Association and sportsmen’s groups.
“Pigeon shooting is a traditional shooting sport and has many participants throughout the commonwealth and around the world. Shoots have been held in Pennsylvania for more than 100 years, and their participants are law-abiding, ethical shooting enthusiasts,” according to a statement on the website of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, which urged NRA members to contact their senators and representatives and oppose the ban.
One of those traditional shoots took place every Labor Day in Hegins, Schuylkill County, from 1934 through 1998. Although that public shoot was shut down by its sponsors and the Pennsylvania courts, others still take place, under the radar, at some of Pennsylvanians private rod and gun clubs.
The NRA did not respond to a request for comment on the new ad campaign.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair, said the bill will not affect “any hunting activity or game activity.” Mr. Maher said he was unfamiliar with the ad campaign but hopes it will help move the legislation.
For more information about the campaign, go to www.sharkonline.org.
fighting0092
