Pennsylvania animal advocates waited with bated breath to see HB 869 brought to the House floor for a vote by Speaker Mike Turzai on Wednesday. It didn’t happen. Many thought last night was our last chance to get the most comprehensive packet of animal welfare bills passed into law. There was another chance today. Again, it didn’t happen. But, all is not lost and there is one last opportunity to get HB 869 passed on November 14th.
Wording in the bill has caused three different groups to have issues with it: U.S. Farm Bureau, AKC, and the NRA. According to LancasterOnline, lobbyists for the NRA were the reason behind the halting of yesterday’s vote. They feared wording in the bill would allow live pigeon shoots to become illegal if the bill was passed. The wording was changed to specifically say pigeon shoots would still be legal.
The article says Representative Mike Sturla who serves on the House Rules Committee stated, “As I understand it, the NRA insisted on language that they believed — and I’m not sure I agree with them — would have affected live pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania.”
The NRA is the strongest proponent to keep the pigeon shoots legal in Pennsylvania. Animal advocates have been fighting for decades to end the barbaric act of live pigeon shoots which occur at the Philadelphia Gun Club, Bucks County and Winge Pointe Gun Club, Berks County.
The wording was changed in the House Rules Committee to appease the group but the bill never came up for a vote by Speaker Turzai. Sturla was disappointed HB 869 didn’t make it to the floor.
There is one last chance for HB 869 to become law. The House of Representatives will be voting on November 14th, the last day for any voting this year. If the bill is not introduced, lawmakers will have to start from scratch in 2017.
So, what can advocates across Pennsylvania do? They are urged to contact their State Representatives. It is suggested to see your Representatives in person to make a stronger impact. There are 19 days remaining until the last and final vote on November 14th. You can find your State Representative at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#county.
Advocates are also asked to contact the following House Representatives:
Majority House Speaker, Mike Turzai at 717-772-9943
Majority Leader, Dave Reed at 717-705-7173
Earlier this year, Representative Ryan Bizzaro (D-Erie) introduced HB 869 which would require convicted animal abusers to forfeit their pets. Senator Richard Alloway II added Libre’s Law which he introduced at a rally last month on the steps of the capitol in Harrisburg. The bill is named after the puppy, Libre, who was found near death at a puppy mill earlier this year. He was saved by a concerned citizen.
HB 869 is a comprehensive packet of four bills which includes the following:
SB 1372-Libre’s Law would increase penalties for heinous animal cruelty acts and raise a summary offense to a third degree felony. The impetus for this bill is Libre, a Boston Terrier puppy who was left to die at a Lancaster County puppy mill by the owner until a good samaritan saved him.
SB 294-Cordelia’s Law would add protection for horses. The current maximum penalty for horse cruelty is a summary citation, similar to a traffic ticket.
Senate Bill 373 which would prevent tethering outside 24/7 and prohibits the tethering of dogs for more than nine hours in a day and alsobad weather. Anyone who commits aggravated animal cruelty that results in serious bodily injury to an animal.
HB 869 needs to pass so animals are better protected in the state of Pennsylvania. This is the best thing to happen in a long time for animals. Please contact your Representative and be a voice for those who cannot speak! The animals need you!
The NRA Ned’s to butt out and realize pigeon shoots are outdated and most hunters don’t support them. Pigeon shoots will never be illegal at this rate.
I’m afraid Pennsylvania will never get outlaw pigeon shoots. Money talks obviously.
I’ll remember them at election time. Same thing happened with the pigeon shoot bill the other year. The NRA paid members of the House to not bring it to the floor for a vote and it worked!
I’m going to call my Representative again. We have to keep the pressure on them!! All of us need to call our Representatives. Power to the people!!
Did it and doing it again. Don’t let them forget us!
I have grown weary and exhausted to think Pa legislators will do right by animals. We ask for basic things and they have a problem with it. They’re supposed to work for us but choose instead to be paid off by lobbyists. How do they live with themselves? Politicians can be bought and paid for by those who can afford to pay a lot of money. Our government at work. Isn’t it great? Why bother to fight when they refuse to do the right thing and have no conscience when they accept briberies? This isn’t how the government was meant to work. I’m ready to throw up my hands in defeat. Time after time the same outcome is reached. They refuse to do the right and sane thing for animals. Pigeon shoots will remain legal because God forbid the wording may suggest otherwise. Why does Pa remain so backwards in their thinking when it comes to animal???? I’m so ashamed of this state and how are senators and Representatives can’t seem to pass basic animal protection laws. Shame on them. The election is right around the corner. Let’s remember those who were bought and those who said no to HB869.
I’m definitely remembering our government officials this election. Speaker Turzai had a total disregard about this important bill. I don’t think he will bring it up for a vote on November 14th. I was so disgusted how our Representatives celebrated some of the others last Thursday and wished others a Happy Birthday. They wasted precious time while we waited to hear HB869 announced for a vote. It wasn’t only our bill that wasn’t announced. There were others and I’m sure they felt as angry and frustrated as us. Have our politicians no shame? The answer is no.
And the AKC is NOT a group who cares about dogs. They sell certificates to puppy mills and make tons of money off this shady practice. I cringe every time I hear anyone speak well of them or praise them. They are sheep in wolves clothes!!!
The AKC is bad news! People need to know the truth about this slimy organization. They are part the problem. Anyone who praises them is either in cahoots with them or clueless.
The NRA pays off certain legislators. They, in turn, either don’t vote yea or won’t bring it to the floor for a vote. I don’t see how this is legal and they aren’t in trouble with the law. Kind of like Clinton, Pay to Play. Politics stink!
I’m calling my representative repeatedly to make sure he’s going to vote for it IF it comes up for a vote. We all know what happened last year when the pigeon shoot bill was supposed to come to the floor for a vote in the House. Same thing. Some reps were paid off. Public knowledge. The election is next week. We can vote people out of there. We have the power. I don’t understand how they don’t get the fact that they work for us! Instead, they listen to special interest groups. Politics is a dirty business.
I’m calling my representative repeatedly to make sure he’s going to vote for it IF it comes up for a vote. We all know what happened last year when the pigeon shoot bill was supposed to come to the floor for a vote in the House. Same thing. Some reps were paid off. Public knowledge. The election is next week. We can vote people out of there. We have the power. I don’t understand how they don’t get the fact that they work for us! Instead, they listen to special interest groups. Politics is a dirty business.
There’s no way a dark cloud should be looming over this great piece of animal legislation except for the fact of the NRA, once again, putting their noses where they don’t belong. There was nothing written that live pigeon shoots will become illegal under the bill. They’re so determined to stand behind the barbaric acts of cruelty which most people feel the same. A minority gets to have the say in this. I call BS! If Clinton gets elected, I’m scared my right to have a gun will be taken away and I don’t want that. I’m also scared the NRA will never allow animal protection bills to be passed in Pennsylvania. It’s so infuriating!
I can’t make the rally but have called my rep and called Mike Turzai and Dave Reed. Thank you for all you do.
I hope and pray it sees the light of day next week. I’m nervous since it will be a lame duck session since the election is tomorrow. Those who are there but not re-elected won’t give a damn about it. I’m still hoping.
Next year we have to push to get this bill passed.
No matter what’s in this bill, the consequences for animal cruelty won’t be strong enough. It will still be a joke compared to what abusers to do to animals. It will still amount to a slap on the wrist. Pa is so far behind the times when it comes to animal welfare because of all the farmers.