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Post by jackc99 on Jul 10, 2008 20:55:50 GMT -5
Rally your troops and make sure someone attends each meeting of the committee before the session starts. Email as many of the members from as many folks as you can get involved and you can have an effect. Keep it civil. Don't threaten them or promise to vote against them but make it clear this is a law you and your friends don't want to see in the legislature. Stopping it at this point is far easier than stopping the herd in the legislature. You only have to convince these guys: Emails for: Mishler is Chairman of the Summer Study, from Bremen. s9@in.govWalker from Columbus. s41@in.govLewis from Charlestown. s45@in.govYoung from Milltown. s47@in.govBichoff from Lawrencebury and very influential. h68@in.govRobertson from Depauw. h70@in.govCherry from Hancock, Shelby. h53@in.govLeonard from Huntington/Whitley. h50@in.govJack P.S. Even if you stop it at this point that doesn't mean it won't reappear during the session so vigilance is paramount. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 10, 2008 21:04:53 GMT -5
Jack,
I modified your post to make the email addresses clickable.
All one has to do is click on the address in the post and it will go straight to their send email box.
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Post by pigeonflier on Jul 10, 2008 21:07:23 GMT -5
I am dumb here Jack,, I can barely keep it civil enough to handle on this board,,, can you make me a letter I can sign and forward on?
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Post by bsutravis on Jul 10, 2008 22:31:37 GMT -5
Here is my letter that I am sending to each member of the committee. I recommend sending a hard copy versus e-mail. Reps get hundreds of e-mails per day, so a hard copy will probably get more attention than an e-mail.......but if you would rather, just e-mail it.
Here's a good starting letter....... feel free to use it, or customize it however you want:
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July, 11 2008
Representative (or Senator) ________________,
I am writing you to express my concern over an issue coming before the Natural Resources Study Committee. I’ve been made aware that one of the topics before you has to deal with the discharge of firearms on bodies of water in densely populated areas. My hope is that the NRSC will rule in favor of Indiana’s hunters and sportsmen and leave our lakes and rivers 100% open to waterfowl hunting.
Last January, Representative Fry (D) from Mishawaka authored HB 1194, which would have forbid the hunting of waterfowl along Indiana’s lakes & streams in areas of high population density. Although HB 1194 never made it out of committee, I see the topic before you as another attempt to push his misguided agenda. There are two driving forces behind these limitations, the first is an issue with two residents along the St. Joe River, in Rep. Fry’s district, who were arrested for hunter harassment in October, 2006. These residents had routinely broken Indiana’s Hunter Harassment Law, by going outside their residences along the St. Joe River, and by using various noise making devices, thwarted the efforts of hunters to legally harvest waterfowl along the river. After several complaints to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, conservation officers working under-cover observed this harassment, and cited two individuals for their actions.
The second force behind this is another attempt by to erode hunter rights, and ultimately erode the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Individuals who are anti-hunters, and anti-firearms look for opportunities to limit any situation that involves firearms, usually under the pretence that they are limiting said activities for “Safety” reasons. According to National Safety Council statistics, far more people per 100,000 participants are injured while bicycling or playing baseball than while hunting. And the Council's most recent statistics show that while roughly 100 people die nationwide in hunting accidents each year, more than 1,500 die in swimming-related incidents.
As an avid waterfowl hunter, taxpayer, and voter I ask that you stand up and stop this issue. We have tens of thousands of waterfowl hunters, and hundreds of thousands of hunters who are watching this proposal, and are firmly against its passage. We hope that you will stand alongside us and do your part in talking to your fellow Republican and Democrat Senators & Representatives and say no to adding laws that prohibit the areas that we can hunt.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS HERE
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Post by pigeonflier on Jul 10, 2008 22:37:55 GMT -5
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Post by mullis56 on Jul 10, 2008 23:23:29 GMT -5
Not a waterfowler here, however, I know a friend of Bichoff plus my wife went to school with his kids. I will make a few phone calls tomorrow, I have some slime on him too! ;D Seriously, he is from Lawrenceburg!
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Post by Ahawkeye on Jul 11, 2008 7:47:34 GMT -5
Letters sent!
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Post by bsutravis on Jul 11, 2008 9:55:07 GMT -5
Letters sent to all members of the study committee.... hard copies and e-mails too.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 11, 2008 10:04:13 GMT -5
Excellent letter Travis.
I would advise everyone that has trouble writing their own (that includes me) to try and take what Travis posted and modify in their own words.
Just copying verbatim what Travis posted will not do a lot of good. The pols kind of disregard any "form letters".
Get on board all hunters. We could be next....
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Post by oarsman on Jul 14, 2008 16:42:29 GMT -5
Any news on the Committee Meeting Schedule???
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Post by fishfarmer on Jul 14, 2008 20:15:08 GMT -5
Just a little tid-bit I read a while back in the South Bend Tribune... Fry is quoted saying he is a member of the NRA and is not against hunting. To me just having his name on this bill is anti-hunting enough for me...BUT do you guys think that the NRA would have any interest in this matter? Just wondering if a "heads up" letter would help us any, since he is quoted saying he in a NRA member and is pushing an anti-hunting bill?
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Post by bsutravis on Jul 14, 2008 23:44:20 GMT -5
 I'm not sure....... Anyone "active" in an NRA Chapter that could shed some light? If he's a member of the NRA, it's purely so he can SAY he's a member. Obviously he doesn't subscribe to the philosophies of the NRA. |
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Post by uglyduckling on Jul 14, 2008 23:50:06 GMT -5
Travis, haven't you talked with Dan about this? Dan and I had this discussion two weeks ago about Fry and the St. Joe. He looked into it and Fry has been telling voters that back him on this that he will get it passed in summer session. Only problem with that is there is no summer session.
Kevin
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Post by johnc911 on Jul 15, 2008 7:35:31 GMT -5
I have talked to my rep a few times in the past week. He is on our side on this. I dont think Fry is very respected amongst his peers. I think it will be tough for him to get anything passed.
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Post by jackc99 on Jul 15, 2008 8:22:17 GMT -5
Only problem with that is there is no summer session. Kevin The "summer session" being referred to is the annual Natural Resources Legislative Study Committee that purportedly meets in the "summer". Their charge is to receive and approve legislation for introduction in the next session of the General Assembly. Passage by the study committee gives blls a certain level of credence with the legislature but does not guarantee passage. In this case the waterfowl bill proposed by Rep. Fry could be defeated (and hopefully will) in the "summer study" and still show up in the regular session. However being defeated in the "summer study" would red flag the bill and many legislators won't go against the wishes of the committee. The entire idea off having a summer study is to get a few legislators completely familiar with a few bills that likely won't be controversial and allow easy passage during the regular session. In other words it speeds things up. My advice is to beat this thing to death EARLY in summer study or face a real heck of a fight during the regular session. Jack |
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Post by jackc99 on Jul 15, 2008 8:24:03 GMT -5
Any news on the Committee Meeting Schedule??? The schedule has not been posted yet but I expect the first of maybe 3 meetings to start at the end of September or early October. They have to be done by November 1st. Jack |
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Post by jackc99 on Jul 15, 2008 8:36:21 GMT -5
I'm not sure....... Anyone "active" in an NRA Chapter that could shed some light? If he's a member of the NRA, it's purely so he can SAY he's a member. Obviously he doesn't subscribe to the philosophies of the NRA. You might want to check District 5 of the state legislators on this one. He has an "A" rating from the NRA. Jack |
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Post by bsutravis on Jul 15, 2008 9:59:27 GMT -5
Not after NRA finds out about this!
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Post by fishfarmer on Jul 15, 2008 15:36:04 GMT -5
OK guys, There is some thing going on "behind the scenes" here! I would like a copy/email whatever of all responses from Fry. Especially the nasty childish ones. I can't give all of the details on a public forum but I can/will explain later. Please send those replies (and to original letter you sent him if you still have it) to Kyle46544@sbcglobal.net (hopefully that is clickable). These letters could be very important to OUR case. |
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Post by oneshotbandit on Jul 15, 2008 16:17:55 GMT -5
Not after NRA finds out about this! No kidding. Can't be more specific!  |
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I'm not sure....... Anyone "active" in an NRA Chapter that could shed some light?
