Archery Sunday Hunting Bills

There are two on the legislative docket

H.B. No. 5028 - AN ACT AUTHORIZING SUNDAY HUNTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

To authorize Sunday hunting on private lands by bow and arrow

H.B. No. 5284 - AN ACT AUTHORIZING HUNTING ON SUNDAYS BY BOW AND ARROW

To authorize hunting on Sundays by bow and arrow provided such hunting is conducted on private property. 

Both are stuck in the legislative morass known as "Referred to" These two bills have been sent to the Joint Committee on Environment

We encourage you to let our legislators know there is support for these bills. This is a sensible goal, especially suited for hunters who don't necessarily get to hunt during the weekdays, applies ONLY to hunting on private property, and can be a useful wildlife management tool.  Find Your Connecticut Legislator

March Madness 5 Stand Shoot Tourney ~ Sunday, March 29

Sunday March 29, 2015
Club grounds open at 0800; shooting starts at 0900
Come One ~ Come All

This will be a one day bracketed 5 stand tournament, so you want to be there on time to get in the running. Open to members and guests. The goal being for folks to get together and see who wins.

ENTRY FEE: $10

pays for clays and a 50/50 top winner purse. Plus a 2nd place prize (to be determined).

So we know who and how many plan to join in so contact Andy Lord (event coordinator) or  email the moodussportsman@gmail.com. Put "MSC March Madness Skeet" in the Subject Line of the email. Your letter will be forwarded to Andy.

East Haddam and Colchester State Representatives

STATE SENATE DISTRICT

Art Linares -  33rd Senate District: Towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook.
At the Capitol:
Legislative Office Building, Room 3400
Hartford, CT 0610
Phone: 1-800-842-1421
Art.Linares@cga.ct.gov




STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS

Linda Orange - Deputy Speaker of the House        
48th District: Colchester, Lebanon,                            
Windham, Mansfield                                                  
At the Capitol:                                             In the District:           Legislative Office Building, Room 4109       52 Standish Road         Hartford, CT 06106-1591                             Colchester, CT 06415 
(860) 240-8585 | 1-800-842-8267                (860) 537-3936  
Linda.Orange@cga.ct.gov

 

Melissa Ziobron
34th District: Colchester, East Haddam, East Hampton  
At the Capitol:
Legislative Office Building,              
Hartford, CT 06106 
(860) 240-0396 | 1-800-842-1423
Melissa.Ziobron@housegop.ct.gov

Current Bills - Storing firearms; "Protective Orders";

Be on target!
Don't be the target

Current Proposed Legislation
"Safe Storage Laws"
"Temporary Restraining Orders"

Voting is only part of the legislative process. You need to be in touch with your legislators,  let them know your opinions on subjects important to you, 

and know how to get your point across clearly and calmly.

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If you do not know your state representatives you can find who they are

at the Find Your Connecticut Legislator.

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OPPOSE ~ HB 6962 ~ "Safe Storage Law" (Official title - AN ACT CONCERNING FIREARM SAFETY) A legislative overreach seeking to criminalize gun owners for keeping their firearms accessible when in their homes.

Currently, if you don’t keep your firearms locked away from minor children, there are civil and criminal liabilities that apply to a minor accessing your unlocked firearm and causing harm. In other words, there has to actually be a victim in order for it to be a criminal.

This bill removes the word ‘minor’ from those statutes, making it a requirement that everyone’s firearms be locked up when not on their person. It also expands your criminal and civil liability for someone accessing your firearms against your will.

Even more disturbingly, the bill then goes on to change the burden of proof for a defendant during a risk warrant hearing. This changes the current ‘innocent until proven guilty’ system, which is already heavily perverted by the risk warrant law, and makes it clear that upon an accusation, you are guilty until proven innocent.

OPPOSE - Senate Bill 650 – (Official title - AN ACT CONCERNING TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS) A bill seeking to remove due process from the restraining order process
OPPOSE - House Bill 6848 - (Official title -AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) A bill seeking to remove due process from the restraining order process

These bills will wrongfully violate the fundamental rights of hundreds of people per year based only on hearsay. In 2014, 45% of all ex parte temporary restraining orders were found to be not valid after the hearing. They would require that a firearms owner surrender his por her firearms within 24 hours of issuance of a temporary restraining order, before any court hearing takes place.

Using the confusion of the difference between a Temporary Restraining Order [TRO] and a Restraining Order [RO] that many people have and trying to make it sound like it would be a ‘common sense’ idea for someone to lose their firearms during a Temporary Restraining Order.

The reality is that there is little that is similar about a TRO and an RO. A TRO is an ex parte order, meaning that only one side has presented anything to the court. In other words, the subject of the TRO has had no opportunity to be heard or represented. This clearly violates the concept and idea of Due Process, but further, it actually negatively impacts public safety as well.

Info on these bills courtesy of Connecticut Carry

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NEVER ASSUME that if a politician is from a different political party or has spoken out in public that favors one side of an issue or another, that they will not listen to hear another point of view. That is their responsibility - to hear varied opinions - and you can hold them to hearing you out. But you need to plan strategically.

If you do not know your state representatives you can find who they are

at the Find Your Connecticut Legislator.

Contacting Connecticut Legislators

Be on target!
Don't be the target

Tips on Contacting Politicians

Voting is only part of the legislative process. You need to be in touch with your legislators,
let them know your opinions on subjects important to you, 

and know how to get your point across clearly and calmly.

---

If you do not know your state representatives you can find who they are

at the Find Your Connecticut Legislator.

---

NEVER ASSUME that if a politician is from a different political party or has spoken out in public that favors one side of an issue or another, that they will not listen to hear another point of view. That is their responsibility - to hear varied opinions - and you can hold them to hearing you out. But you need to plan strategically.

WRITE, FAX OR E-MAIL YOUR LEGISLATORS

1) Use plain or personal stationery.
2) Use proper form of address.
3) Write legibly.
4) Keep it short and to the point. Let them know what you expect.
5) Address on issue per communication.
6) Outline essential information: bill number, title and description. If you don't know these items, you can look for them at the Connecticut Legislative Website.
7) Use your own words. Avoid form letters. Describe personal experiences and local impact.
8) Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, or e-mail.

CALLING YOUR LEGISLATORS

Note: If you cannot speak directly to your legislator or official, do not refuse to speak with a staff person. You may gain useful information and a helpful source for future reference.
1) Be prepared
     • Be brief and to the point
     • Have the key information written down: essential points of your position, bill number, title and description. If you don't know these items, you can look for them at the Connecticut Legislative Website.
     • Try to place call at crucial time for issue, e.g., before a key vote.
     • Use correct form of address, e.g., Senator Smith, not Joe.
2) Present your position briefly
     • Identify yourself and where you live.
     • One issue per call.
     • Be factual and honest.
     • Use your own words.
     • Mention how issue will affect your district or community or organization.
3) Ask for their views
     • Try to find out their position and how they will vote.
     • Keep tone friendly, even if their position does not agree with your own.
4) End the conversation politely
     • Thank the officials.
     • Offer to send information on your issue.

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INFORMATION SOURCES: [1] The Connecticut League of Women Voters publishes a number of handy pamphlets on legislative advocacy. The material above came from The Art of Advocacy pamphlet. [2] You can find out handy tips on how to best prepare to testify (in person or in writing) before the Legislature using the Guide for Reaching State Legislators and Testifying at Hearings. [3] For the online savvy, check out the Using the Internet to Make Democracy Work pamphlet. [4] Finally, the Connecticut Legislative Website can provide you names and contact phone numbers to state legislators.

March Madness 5 Stand Shoot Tourney ~ Sunday, March 29

Sunday March 29, 2015
Club grounds open at 0800; shooting starts at 0900
Come One ~ Come All

This will be a one day bracketed 5 stand tournament, so you want to be there on time to get in the running. Open to members and guests. The goal being for folks to get together and see who wins.

ENTRY FEE: $10

pays for clays and a 50/50 top winner purse. Plus a 2nd place prize (to be determined).

So we know who and how many plan to join in so contact Andy Lord (event coordinator) or  email the moodussportsman@gmail.com. Put "MSC March Madness Skeet" in the Subject Line of the email. Your letter will be forwarded to Andy.

Important East Haddam Open Space Acquisition Public Hearing (March 12) and Referendum (March 24)

As discussed at the last Moodus Sportsmen's Club membership meeting:

Come to the Public Hearing and learn more about these two remarkable parcels of land that will become public hunting, hiking and recreational areas with your support.

Town Meeting - March 12, 2015 - 8 pm 

at the East Haddam Town Meeting Hall 492 Town Street

Town Referendum (VOTE!) March 24, 2015 - 12 noon to 8 pm 

at the East Haddam Town Meeting Hall

 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has already awarded grants to the Town of East Haddam for the purchase of these two properties.

The Town’s share (Lena Parcel - 36.5% of the cost or $279,500 / Zeleznicky Parcel - 39% of the cost or $49,500) of these purchases may be financed by the issuance of general obligation bonds and notes of the Town.

Hunter Safety Class POSTPONED

the DEEP Hunter Safety Course originally scheduled for March 20 thru 22 has to be POSTPONED. Please watch this site for the new date, some time in April or early May. [Advance sign-up required]

Sorry for any inconvenience.