Post by cspot on Jan 8, 2017 21:56:50 GMT -5
Pennsylvania lawmakers returned to session this week, but already it's looking as though the next two years will be interesting ones for sportsmen and gun owners.
Legislators announced plans to sponsor a number of bills impacting everything from who can hunt when to what they can use afield to who gets to decide what it all costs.
Some of the pending bills are simply reintroductions of legislation that failed to pass in the 2015-16 legislative session. Others are new.
Here's a look at what's up for debate — so far — in the 2017-18 session.
• Rep. Neal Goodman, a Schuylkill County Democrat, will introduce at least six outdoors-related bills.
One would make it illegal to use a hen turkey call in the woods starting 30 days prior to the start of the spring gobbler season. The idea, he said, it to keep some hunters from gaining an “unfair advantage” over others while educating birds.
Another would increase the penalties for stealing game cameras. Taking one would be considered the same form of hunter harassment as stealing a tree stand or decoys and carry fines of up to $1,500 and three months in jail. Hunters who steal a camera from another also would have to take a remedial hunter education course.
Speaking of that, a third Goodman proposal would change the law to require anyone who's had their hunting license revoked to take an in-depth remedial hunter ed training course before they could buy their next license.
He's also behind bills that would limit hunters to getting three doe tags a year (outside of special regulations areas); create a ninth Pennsylvania Game Commission board seat; and allow kids ages 12-17 to try hunting on a mentor basis without first having to pass a hunter education course.
• Rep. Bob Godshall and Rep. Pam Snyder, a Montgomery County Republican and Greene County Democrat, respectively, are sponsoring a bill that would remove the prohibition on Sunday hunting.
• Then there's the money issue.
The Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission long have been seeking increases in the cost of hunting and fishing licenses. Hunting and furtaking licenses haven't gone up in price since 1999, fishing licenses since 2004.
Last session, the state Senate approved bills that would have allowed the agencies to set their own license fees. Neither got through the House of Representatives.
Lawmakers are going to try again.
Sen. John Eichelberger, a Blair County Republican, said he intends to reintroduce legislation that would allow the Fish and Boat Commission to set license prices on its own. Sen. Patrick Stefano, a Fayette County Democrat, said he intends to do the same for Game.
• Lawmakers are planning to introduce a number of firearms bills. Some likely will be greeted warmly by gun owners, others not.
One, for example, would prohibit public or private sources from compiling registries of gun owners. Another would ban the possession, purchase, transfer, use or manufacture of an “assault weapon.”
Legislators announced plans to sponsor a number of bills impacting everything from who can hunt when to what they can use afield to who gets to decide what it all costs.
Some of the pending bills are simply reintroductions of legislation that failed to pass in the 2015-16 legislative session. Others are new.
Here's a look at what's up for debate — so far — in the 2017-18 session.
• Rep. Neal Goodman, a Schuylkill County Democrat, will introduce at least six outdoors-related bills.
One would make it illegal to use a hen turkey call in the woods starting 30 days prior to the start of the spring gobbler season. The idea, he said, it to keep some hunters from gaining an “unfair advantage” over others while educating birds.
Another would increase the penalties for stealing game cameras. Taking one would be considered the same form of hunter harassment as stealing a tree stand or decoys and carry fines of up to $1,500 and three months in jail. Hunters who steal a camera from another also would have to take a remedial hunter education course.
Speaking of that, a third Goodman proposal would change the law to require anyone who's had their hunting license revoked to take an in-depth remedial hunter ed training course before they could buy their next license.
He's also behind bills that would limit hunters to getting three doe tags a year (outside of special regulations areas); create a ninth Pennsylvania Game Commission board seat; and allow kids ages 12-17 to try hunting on a mentor basis without first having to pass a hunter education course.
• Rep. Bob Godshall and Rep. Pam Snyder, a Montgomery County Republican and Greene County Democrat, respectively, are sponsoring a bill that would remove the prohibition on Sunday hunting.
• Then there's the money issue.
The Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission long have been seeking increases in the cost of hunting and fishing licenses. Hunting and furtaking licenses haven't gone up in price since 1999, fishing licenses since 2004.
Last session, the state Senate approved bills that would have allowed the agencies to set their own license fees. Neither got through the House of Representatives.
Lawmakers are going to try again.
Sen. John Eichelberger, a Blair County Republican, said he intends to reintroduce legislation that would allow the Fish and Boat Commission to set license prices on its own. Sen. Patrick Stefano, a Fayette County Democrat, said he intends to do the same for Game.
• Lawmakers are planning to introduce a number of firearms bills. Some likely will be greeted warmly by gun owners, others not.
One, for example, would prohibit public or private sources from compiling registries of gun owners. Another would ban the possession, purchase, transfer, use or manufacture of an “assault weapon.”
