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Rhode Island Bill Proposes Harmful Restrictions on Dog Housing & Tethering

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Senate Bill 2035, introduced by Senator John Tassoni (D-Smithfield), would severely restrict how sporting dog and other owners keep dogs outdoors.

The bill would prohibit keeping a dog outdoors in a pen, cage, or other outdoor housing structure for more than 14 hours in a 24 hour period regardless of the size of the pen.

Tethering a dog for more than 10 hours in a 24 hour period would also be prohibited under the bill.

While the bill does include an exemption for sporting dog owners, it only would apply when the dog was actively engaged in hunting, training, or field trialing or while being transported to or from these activities. The exemption would not apply to sporting dog owners while they are at home.

Both prohibitions would set arbitrary limits on how sporting and other dog owners can keep dogs. This is despite the fact that reasonable and safe outdoor housing and tethering practices have long been utilized by hunters and field trailers who take great care of their dogs.

“This bill effectively kills the housing of dogs in outdoor kennels, a commonly accepted practice across the country and one that is used by many premier dog breeders,” said Evan Heusinkveld, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance director of state services.

“The limits set by this bill are simply unwarranted, arbitrary, and would put many responsible dog kennels out of existence. Sportsmen and sporting dog owners need to contact their state senators and ask them to oppose this harmful bill.”

The legislation is similar to Senate Bill 140, introduced by Senator Tassoni last year.

Take Action! Rhode Island sportsmen should contact their state senators and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 2035. Tell them the restrictions imposed by the bill are unnecessary and would create an unwarranted hardship for responsible sporting dog owners. To find your state senator’s contact information, please visit www.ussportsmen.org/LAC.

For more information, contact the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance at 614-888-4868 or email info@ussportsmen.org.

About:
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

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New Jersey Apprentice Hunting Bills Reintroducedon

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Senate Bill 1083, sponsored by Senator Bob Smith (D- Piscataway), and Assembly Bill 1544, sponsored by Assemblyman John J Burzichelli (D- Paulsboro), would allow youth ages 10 and older and adults to hunt under an apprentice hunting license.

The license would allow new hunters to try hunting under the mentorship of an experienced adult before completing a hunter education course.

“Apprentice hunting licenses have been a cornerstone of the Families Afield program and our efforts to boost hunter recruitment across the country,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance in-house counsel and associate director of state services. “The try-before-you-buy concept has a proven track record of safely recruiting new hunters. New Jersey sportsmen are encouraged to contact their state assembly person and their state senator and ask them to support the future of hunting by passing these bills.”

Research has shown that not only is apprentice hunting successful at safely recruiting new hunters but that apprentice hunters are some of the safest in the woods.

The Families Afield initiative was established by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation to bring a new generation of sportsmen to the field. Along with the National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the coalition has worked to pass measures in 32 states with more than 600,000 apprentice or mentored hunting licenses sold since the program’s inception.

Take Action! New Jersey sportsmen should contact their state assembly person and senator and ask them to support Senate Bill 1083 and House Bill 1544. Tell them apprentice hunting licenses have been shown across the country to be a safe and successful way to recruit new hunters.

To find your state senator’s contact information, use the USSA Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org/lac.

About:
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.

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