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| Trumping County Rights – To Trap or Not to Trap? |
| The US Sportsmen’s Alliance (http://www.ussportsmen.org/) is taking part in a debate in New York State regarding who has the right to regulate trapping – state wildlife officials or counties. Four separate bills have been introduced. A1531 and S1771 propose that a constitutional amendment be added to the state constitution guaranteeing the right to hunt, fish, and trap. This amendment is similar to ones recently passed in Wisconsin, and introduced in two other states. Even though the bills intend to reaffirm that the state is the entity that regulates trapping, they barely mention this point. The other two bills, A480 and S2901, would empower counties to enact trapping laws that are stricter than the state’s standard. The introduction of these bills is in response to three court decisions striking down enacted county laws that were stricter than state laws. A480 and S2901 would allow counties to place stricter limits on trapping – not eliminate the practice, as the US Sportsmen’s Alliance claims. Coincidentally, one week after these bills were introduced, A1531 and S1771 were proposed in an effort to counteract them. Sponsors of the county bills assert their legislation reflects the changing demographics of the counties, and allows local officials to make decisions on issues affecting their municipalities. Sponsors of the constitutional amendment believe that state wildlife officials should make decisions regarding trapping; however, this point is lost in language supporting New York’s long hunting history. A constitutional amendment is unnecessary and irrelevant to the debate on whether counties should be allowed to regulate trapping. Adding irony to the debate over trapping is the US Sportsmen’s Alliance calling for state wildlife officials to regulate an aspect of hunting. |
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106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 § Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Phone: 608-252-9800 § Fax: 608-252-9828
Email: [email protected]
106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 § Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Phone: 608-252-9800 § Fax: 608-252-9828
Email: [email protected]
