TNUSA of Michigan - Legislative Action

We Had Many Success In 2006
We seen several pieces of important legislation last year become law and one very heartbreaking defeat. House Bill 5142 (Repeal "duty to retreat" in home self defense ), House Bill 5143 (Repeal "duty to retreat" in self defense ) House Bill 5548 (Ban lawsuits in cases of legitimate self defense ) all made it to the governors desk and were signed into law back in July 05.

After several attempts and a few years we were able to get passed House Bill 5192 (Reduce gun hunting license age ) This new law will lower the minimum age for a small game hunting license from 12 to 10 years, reduce the minimum age for a deer, bear, or elk firearm hunting license from 14 to 12. Also back in July we seen a new program sign into law, Senate Bill 1105 (Create "apprentice" hunting license ). This new program will authorize an "apprentice" hunting license for a person who has not hunted before or taken a hunter safety class. An "apprentice" would have to he accompanied in the field by an adult with a regular hunting license.

We did witnessed last election the crushing defeat of the dove proposal. I believe this came about because Michigan's outdoor community lacks the organization to battle those who wish to destroy Michigan's rich tradition of hunting, fishing and trapping. We have become complacent and reactionary. No longer can we sit quietly and wait for the battles to come to us. We MUST become pro-active and united, we need a coalition of all Michigan sportsmen groups that will defend and promote our outdoor lifestyle. I have become aware of several such groups expressing the same concerns and on behalf of TNUSAMI. I will contact these and other organizations and discuss the need for a coalition of all Michigan sportsmen. Divide and conquer is a tactic we need to end here in Michigan. United as one will tell PETA, HSUS and other anti groups to stay the hell out of Michigan your only wasting your time and KMA!

Greg Booker
TNUSA MI State Legislative Director
IN THE WIND >>>-------> HE'S STILL ALIVE

Hello TNUSA members,

My name is Greg Booker, some of you might know me as Dyankee from talkback ( http://www.tnugent.com/). I am going to continue in the exciting role as State Legislative Director.

The main objective of this position will be to see that legislation that we support gets passed and to defeat any destructive legislation or counter-productive policies we may encounter. To achieve these goals I will provide vital information to our members through the State Communications Director and the State Webmaster.

Another key element to the success of this new role will be to open lines of communications to our elected officials and their staff in Lansing. Working together and sharing ideas that will benefit Michigan sportsmen and women. Communicating with other sportsmen groups and conservation organizations, such as MI DNR, MUCC, and the U.S. Sportsmen Alliance in effort to support one another and to protect our outdoor lifestyle against anti-hunting organizations.

A lot off hard work went into getting Michigan's right-to-carry law passed. As State Legislation Action Director I will open dialog with such 2nd amendment groups, as MCRGO, NRA & Gun Owners of America to help safeguard our 2nd amendment rights.

TNUSA is about Activism. A brotherhood of activists united in promoting the family oriented, hands on, conservation lifestyle of the hunting conservationist. I will work to see that TNUSA is leading the way on behalf of the sporting community; upgrading our lives, communities, and ensuring our outdoor future by standing for what is right by doing what is right.

Greg Booker
State Legislative Director
Email Greg at Legislative_Action.Director@tnusami.com

The Governor of Michigan gave hunter recruitment in her state a shot in the arm today when she signed two bills designed to boost the number of new hunters entering the field.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm today signed HB 5192 and SB 1105. Both bills are part of Families Afield, a program designed by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to recruit young hunters into the sport by lowering or eliminating unnecessary age restrictions.

Senate Bill 1105, sponsored by Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Leelanau,
co-chair of the Michigan State Sportsmen’s Caucus, creates an apprentice hunting license which allows people to be introduced to hunting under direct supervision of a licensed adult hunter before completing hunter education. To become fully licensed and hunt alone, the new hunter must complete a hunter education course.

House Bill 5192, sponsored by Rep. Scott Hummel, R-DeWitt, lowers the big game hunting minimum age from 14 to 12 and the small game hunting minimum age from 12 to 10.

Under the two new laws, an experienced hunter can introduce a person who has not completed hunter education to small game hunting at the age of 10 and big game hunting at the age of 12. The new hunter must acquire an apprentice hunting license and hunt under the direct supervision of the licensed experienced hunter. However, if the new hunter has completed hunter education, he or she may now acquire a license to hunt small game at the age of 10 and big game at the age of 12.

“We are excited that a state with such a rich hunting heritage as Michigan has passed Families Afield legislation,” said Rob Sexton, vice president for government affairs for the USSA. “Governor Granholm, Senator McManus, Representative Hummel and the rest of the Michigan legislature are to be commended.”

The Youth Hunting Report, commissioned by the USSA, NSSF and NWTF, found that states which permit parents to decide when their children begin to hunt, and states which allow potential hunters to try hunting under the watchful eye of a mentor before completing a hunter education course, experience better recruitment and retention of new hunters. More importantly, these states produce safety statistics that are better than states that place high restrictions on age and hunter education, as well as under what conditions a new hunter can legally enter the field.

Before the passage of today’s bills, Michigan was second only to New York as the most restrictive state in the country in terms of age limits on when a new hunter could start hunting.

Michigan joins Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Utah and Mississippi as states which have passed Families Afield legislation. Like these states, Michigan has a rich hunting heritage, yet hunter recruitment is waning due to restrictive regulations placed on the ages at which a person can begin to hunt. Families Afield gives parents the opportunity to decide when their child is ready to hunt, rather than have the government set an arbitrary age minimum.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.