FWIW; I just e-mailed the letter below to all nine members of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Natural Resources (i.e. the 9 that torpedoed both Sunday hunting bills). Any and all responses received will be posted here.
Quote:
Hon. Del. __________;
I am distressed that both bills that would have allowed limited hunting on Sundays in Virginia failed to pass out of your subcommittee on Natural Resources.
Virginia is one of only seven states that do not allow hunting on Sundays, and one of only seven states that have thus far not heeded the calls by hunters and constituents alike to allow those of us who hunt on Sunday to enjoy our traditions and heritage, and our pasttimes, as any other group may on Sundays. We may fish on Sundays, watch or play sports on Sundays, drink and smoke on Sundays, and in fact, engage in any other otherwise lawful activity, passive or active, on Sundays in the Commonwealth of Virginia, except for hunting.
The Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries "Summary of Virginia Hunters' Opinions on Sunday Hunting", submitted to the General Assembly on January 4, 2007, found that a clear majority of hunters favored having the option of hunting on Sundays.
The VDGIF has indicated that game population numbers are increasing, rapidly, across the state and that hunting on Sunday would result in no negative impacts on game populations.
H.B. 1639, which would have allowed hunting on Sundays from noon to 1/2 hour past sunset was, in my opinion, not a very good bill, but was at least a first step toward rectifying a poor situation in Virginia for those of us who hunt and who work at least five days per week.
H.B. 2303 was a far better bill, and actually granted more authority to private landowners, by allowing only private landowners or written permissees to hunt on private land all day on Sunday.
Neither of these bills passed in your subcommittee, and I, as a constituent of the Commonwealth of Virginia and a hunter, would like to know your vote on both of these bills and your rationale for those votes.
Thank you,
Also, the nine members are listed here:
Quote:
Ware, R. Lee, Jr. (Chairman)
Delegate from the House 65th District (R)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 409
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1065
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 689
Powhatan, Virginia 23139
(804) 598-6696
email:
DelLWare@house.state.va.us
Morgan, Harvey B.
Delegate from the House 98th District (R)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 523
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1098
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 949
Gloucester, Virginia 23061
(804) 693-4750
email:
DelHMorgan@house.state.va.us
Plum, Kenneth R.
Delegate from the House 36th District (D)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 401
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1036
Mailing Address:
2073 Cobblestone Lane
Reston, Virginia 20191
(703) 758-9733
email:
DelKPlum@house.state.va.us
Wright, Thomas C., Jr.
Delegate from the House 61st District (R)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 410
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1061
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1323
Victoria, Virginia 23974
(434) 696-3061
email:
DelTWright@house.state.va.us
Hogan, Clarke N.
Delegate from the House 60th District (R)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 805
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1060
Mailing Address:
455 Short Street, Suite 204
South Boston, Virginia 24592
(434) 575-0000
email:
DelCHogan@house.state.va.us
Saxman, Christopher B.
Delegate from the House 20th District (R)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 527
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1020
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2517
Staunton, Virginia 24401
(540) 886-8284
email:
DelCSaxman@house.state.va.us
Cline, Benjamin L.
Delegate from the House 24th District (R)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 719
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1024
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1405
Amherst, Virginia 24521
(434) 946-9908
email:
DelBCline@house.state.va.us
Eisenberg, Albert C.
Delegate from the House 47th District (D)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 817
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1047
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 969
Arlington, Virginia 22216
(703) 228-7909
email:
DelAEisenberg@house.state.va.us
McEachin, A. Donald
Delegate from the House 74th District (D)
In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 813
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1074
Mailing Address:
5905 W. Broad Street
Suite 100
Richmond, Virginia 23230
(804) 288-3381
email:
DelDMcEachin@house.state.va.us