SB 566 Report./Birdwatchers United
Harry Fisher (fish8553@dpnet.net)
Fri, 05 Mar 1999 23:28:17 -0500
Hi All:
Rob Hilton wrote:
> At 08:08 AM 3/5/99 -0500, Ellen Paul wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> >Well, guess how many birders showed up at today's
> >hearing in the Maryland House of Delegates to testify against the bill
> >to allow Sunday hunting?
> >
> >TWO. Just TWO. Me and George Wilmot.
People do what they ( feel ) they can. It took me a long time to want an
active role in any organization. Maybe people who don`t contribute in the
political arena contribute in other ways, such as teaching a youngster about
birds. I think we all contribute in some way. People don`t always do what we
want/expect them to do.
>
>
> Ellen,
>
> Immediately upon hearing about this bill last Friday, I wrote three letters
> to the three delegates representing me who had email accounts listed on the
> Web page Leslie Fisher (?) provided with her message.
Actually, I want to make sure that Marcia Whitmyre gets credit where credit is
due. This is the gal that alerted MDO with web site included. You go girl!!
> Yes, I didn't
> testify, but I wrote, and I passed the message on to people I thought would
> be opposed to Sunday hunting.
I`m sure that many others out there did the same thing.
>
>
> I know that's not the same as testifying, but my office schedule didn't
> permit me to easily take most of the day off to testify.
I have a weird schedule with different days off during the week, and Friday
just happened to be my day off. To be perfectly honest, I was reluctant to
make the trek to Annapolis for various reasons. It`s my day off ( selfish ),
shy in front of strangers ( true ), not much of a politician ( true ), knew it
would be a long day ( whine. ) Just ask Marica, she`ll tell you how I quibbled
and vacillated. In all, it was a gratifying experience, if somewhat
nerve-wracking, so I`m glad I bit the bullet. Yes, I will do it again if need
be. Hopefully practice will make me a more effective speaker. I really felt
the pressure to be brief, and felt that I just blurted out what I could think
of.
SB 566 was pretty much " shot " down in flames by a strong showing of those
opposed, including reps from birdwatching, ANS, Humane Society, Orienteering,
Farm Bureau, Horsemen of various groups and even an individual who was a hunter
and member of a sporting group. Those in favor were a distinct minority. We
were the last bill to be heard. So extensive were the testimonials that the
Committee began pleading for brevity and actively enforcing the 3 min limit.
Eyes were glazing over, I think the chairman looked asleep at one point.
Session did not end until 6 pm. I will say that the various hunting factions
were questioned vigorously over their viewpoints of a) not allowing Sun.
hunting is hurting family life b) effectiveness of hunting in controlling deer
populations
c) economic impact of increased hunting days
d) using the bill for their convenience under guise of controlling deer
populations. It was also pointed out by a committee member that the bill could
stir up strong anti-hunting sentiment.
Let`s hope the outcome of all this comes out for the best.
Long day over, Leslie Fisher
( Gail, Barry, Fred- nice to meet you all )
Cecil Co.
>
>
> Best,
>
> Rob Hilton
> robert@csa.com
> Bethesda
>
> Rob (Robert) Hilton--robert@csa.com--Bethesda, Md. (very close to
> Washington, DC)
>
> "She goes around, opening the doors"--Kristen Hersh