Help fight the NRA in Roswell, GA, re: Deer hunting

[wyldwolf]

If you are so inclined...

We've got a situation in Roswell that I would sure appreciate your help.......Roswell is a heavily wooded city, and the Chattahoochee River runs through it, so deer love the place.

Apparently idiots are getting around the no hunting laws of the city by using bows & arrows or crossbows instead of guns to kill them.

I'm not real excited about people running around with crossbows and bows and arrows.

Anyway, Roswell's City Council wanted to close that loophole by including bow & arrows & crossbows in a City ordinance which banned weapons for hunting in the city. But the NRA sent out an e-mail blast with total baloney in it (they argued it would "limit the ability of residents to defend themselves" and "prohibit Roswell residents from using a gun to defend themselves and their families against dangerous animals such as bears.") and got tons of their people (not just from Roswell) to show up for the city council meeting last night. Bottom line is, the City Council stood up to them and passed the change to our ordinance. However, the NRA folks demanded a second chance, so they will be trying to get the amendment cancelled or reworded to get them what they want. This will happen before the May 16th date mentioned in the AJC article.

Can you please send a note or give a call to the Roswell City Council? They are only hearing from these very aggressive and vocal NRA people and are really being put on the spot. However, if they get tons of positive responses for the change, they will have something to back them up. If you live in Roswell, be sure to include your address, it really helps.

These guys voted for the change and need your support:
Kent Igleheart [e-mail]
David Tolleson [e-mail]
Paula Winiski [e-mail]

These two voted against it and need some persuading:
Jerry Orlans [e-mail]
Terry Joyner [e-mail]


Lori Henry was not at the meeting last night, but needs to hear your position, she will be at the next meeting: Lori Henry [e-mail]


And it'd be great for our Mayor to hear your position too:
Mayor Jere Wood [e-mail]


Also, the AJC is taking a poll on the issue, if you could take a moment to vote that can only help too.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/northfulton/0305/22NRA.html

AJC article:

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/northfulton/0305/22NRA.html

[vpigrad]

1. Those NRA people are terrified of animals!

I need this 500 caliber machine gun with scope just to make sure that if fluffy the family pet goes on a rampage, I can kill it.

[Cicero]

6. "It's coming right for us! BLAM!!!" (nt)

[onehandle]

2. I live in Decatur but have hiked in those woods in the past. (edit)

I don't want to see anyone bleeding to death like the deer in the ajc story. No weapon should be discharged with the purpose of violence of any kind in our megasuburbs. Shooting range, fine. Backyard Archery in a controlled situation (I did that as a kid), fine.

Too damn dangerous in such a heavily populated city.

On edit: I just sent a polite note to all you listed.

[starwolf]

3. I don't have a problem with this

Arrows and bolts are very short range compared to firearms. If that is the current means of keeping the deer herd down, and if the hunters are exercising due care for others and their property, I am not sure I have a problem with letting them hunt.

Deer, AKA Hoof Rats are a serious issue in many areas. People get hurt and killed when their vehicles collide with them, esp motorcycles, my primary means of transportation.

I have a shirt with this logo that I wear proudly. http://www.pkriders.org/nodeer.htm

[CottonBear]

4. I don't have a problem with bow hunting either.

I don't hunt, but I do enjoy venison. One must hunt on one's own property or on a property with the permission of the owner.

Most towns and cities have restrictions on hunting with rifles within the city limits (especially in areas with small lots and high density) because of the distance a deer rifle bullet can travel.

Bow hunters can hunt at different times than hunters using rifles. I think the bow season is before the regular deer season. Arrows don't fly as far as a bullet. Bow hunting requires more skill and is more sporting than hunting with a rifle.

There are too many deer and no predators (wolves, mountain lions and bears) left to control the population. I was hit by a deer last year. The side of my car was badly damaged and both passenger sides windows shattered into the car and all over me! I was lucky that I wasn't killed. The deer hit my side window about 6 inches away from my face.

[starwolf]

5. Hunting land without permission is poaching

and is already illegal, whether its with a gun, bow, or snare.

Hoof Rats are without a predator in nature these days except man. Yes we created this situation, but it is what it is. Every time I hear people whining about how nice it is that the deer are in the woods behind their house and that they leave feed corn out for them, I want to show the pictures of people in cars and on motorcycles that were killed because of Bambi. Don't mistake me for Ted Nugent, but we have to bring the herd sizes down by a bunch for our own safety.