I wanted to discuss the status of the “Bowhunter’s Safety Zone” Bills.
Assembly Bill 595 and Senate Bill 976 are both alive and well, but there has been a change. A595 was amended on December 15th to require bowhunters be in an elevated position and the arrow aimed in a downward angle as it relates to the specifics of the bill.
To quote the amendment directly, “Under this floor amendment, a person, while hunting with a bow and arrow in the perimeter established in the bill, would be permitted to be elevated in a tree, on a hill, or at another higher vantage point where the person could angle an arrow downward. New Jersey's diverse topography and landscape includes many naturally higher points which would qualify under the elevation requirement in this floor amendment.”
A595 was amended on the Assembly Floor; this type of amendment does not require A595 to go back to committee and start the process over. We are told that S976 will be amended in the same manner. This saves us a lot of effort and time not having to cover ground that we already have as New Jersey’s Legislature only sits for two years, so active bills have two years to be passed or suffer the fate of having to be reintroduced and start the process all over.
The next step in the process is getting each bill voted out of its’ respective legislative house. That is going to take effort from everyone; numerous phone calls, letters, and emails to our elected officials letting them know that we WANT this legislation passed. Because believe me, there are those ACTIVISTS that don’t want this bill to pass and they constantly contact their legislators and are actively seeking to kill these bills.
Well, it’s time for us to become ACTIVISTS too. When you get an e-mail blast or a phone call asking to contact your legislators, do it, don’t think “The next guy will, I’m covered” because that is how we lose. Check the UBNJ website and the New Jersey Legislature’s website often for updates and make your voices heard! Become active in the process and let New Jersey’s elected officials know that we will no longer suffer in silence!!!
After we get the bill passed out of its’ legislative house, the Governor signs it and it becomes law. We can do this, it’s ours to lose!
A brief update on Sunday Bowhunting…
The Senate passed S802 on October 23rd by a vote of 32-6-2. S802 was then sent to the Assembly’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; where it currently waits to be heard. It will replace A1669 once heard and passed out of committee, and then would have to be voted out of the Assembly and signed by the Governor.
We will have many things on our plate in the once the Legislature returns from recess in the New Year, and we still have many adversaries, so the time for us to become ACTIVE is NOW! We will need your support, your voice, and your muscle; but I know that we can count on you…You are BOWHUNTERS!
Yours in Bowhunting…
Brian Dolobacs
President - UBNJ