Indiana legislation that would have imposed restrictions on licensed firearm hunters and prevented youngsters from being involved in the sport has failed.
House Bill 1417, introduced by Rep. Carolene Mays, D-Indianapolis, would have required sportsmen to register for a $10 permit to carry their firearms in the field. Making the bill even more threatening to the state"™s outdoor heritage was an unreasonable age requirement for registration. The firearm registration would have been available only to those hunters 18 years or older. The bill did not advance from the House of Representatives to the Senate before its deadline.
Sportsmen nationwide face legislation similar to HB 1417 that could indirectly keep sportsmen out of the field. These backdoor efforts include bills that have appeared in California to impose taxes on ammunition, New York legislation to restrict firearm sales, and dangerous bills in Maine and New Jersey that would have banned the use of .50 caliber firearms including muzzleloaders.
BACKDOOR EFFORT TO RESTRICT HUNTING AND HUNTER RECRUITMENT IN INDIANA FAILS
