DougD
Member
To all Texas Hunters on THR: As many of us know, we can legally use suppressors when hunting non-game animals (e.g. coyotes and feral hogs) but we cannot use them while hunting game animals (i.e. deer). I know there's a lot of us who would like to use suppressors while deer hunting. After a significant hearing-related hunting incident I had a couple of weeks ago, I am now more in favor of using suppressors for hunting than ever before.
I found this map which shows the status of U.S. suppressor laws regarding hunting:
I also found THIS THREAD regarding an attempt to change Montana law on hunting game animals with a suppressor.
With these things in mind, I'm trying to gauge how much support there is for changing the Texas law to allow hunting of game animals while using suppressors.
I created a Survey Monkey survey on this. If I can collect a significant number of responses, I'll post the results. Here's the link(s):
Survey: Texas Law on Suppressor Use for Hunting Game Animals
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YR9Y8Q5
Please spread this survey far and wide so we can get some valid results.
I think any reasonable effort to get the law changed would include:
What are your thoughts on this?
I found this map which shows the status of U.S. suppressor laws regarding hunting:
I also found THIS THREAD regarding an attempt to change Montana law on hunting game animals with a suppressor.
With these things in mind, I'm trying to gauge how much support there is for changing the Texas law to allow hunting of game animals while using suppressors.
I created a Survey Monkey survey on this. If I can collect a significant number of responses, I'll post the results. Here's the link(s):
Survey: Texas Law on Suppressor Use for Hunting Game Animals
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YR9Y8Q5
Please spread this survey far and wide so we can get some valid results.
I think any reasonable effort to get the law changed would include:
- filing of open records requests to determine how many poachers have been caught using suppressors
- a survey of game wardens to determine their position on the issue
- determining the # of successful prosecutions of poachers who used suppressors
- facts/stats/figures related to even the "alleged" use of suppressors for hunting
- an exploration of the origin of the current law (who wrote it, when, and why)
- the listed benefits of the current law (why do we keep it)
- a cogent explanation of why the law should be changed
- benefits of suppressor use for hunting (for hunters, landowners, the game itself, etc.)
- a coordinated and meaningful letter writing campaign by Texas hunters from multiple districts
- getting at least two legislators to sponsor a bill
- a determination of what groups would oppose the bill
What are your thoughts on this?