My name is Thomas H. LaQuey. I could use your verbal and moral support in the form of an email, sent to The United States Department of The Interior. Mark it to the attention of Doug Gentile at [email protected] Please ask your all of your organizations members, neighbors and friends to send one as well.

I have been working for the past few years to get the permission of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, to allow me to use a crossbow in the bow season. They have turned me down. I presently have a complaint filed against them with the Department of the Interior as they control the federal monies of the CDOW. I filed the complaint under the Americans with Disabilities act.

My disability began in about 1997 when I had the ball of my left shoulder removed and a prosthesis installed. My shoulder also has nerve and muscle problems not allowing me to hold up a rife or draw a bow. I want to be able to hunt the bow season with a crossbow just like disabled hunters are allowed to do as needed in about 34 states. Colorado has said they will only allow me to hunt those seasons if I use a devise where I have to pull the bowstring with my teeth or use a bow brace where I would have to tie the bowstring to my body. My dentist has said no on the mouth tab and the bow brace would be so cumbersome moving through the black timber over downfalls and under and through brush. A crossbow would allow me freedom of movement equal to that allowed normal bow hunters.

I am not the only disabled hunter in this spot and The Department of the Interior has told me they have had other complaints from other states that do not allow the crossbow because they were petitioned by bow hunting organizations filled with non-disabled hunters who do not want to allow the crossbow. I am only asking for them to allow it to the disabled who require its use because of the nature of their disability. This could be decided in a case-by-case manner. Please send your email to Doug Gentile mentioned above, stating that you believe the disabled deserve to be allowed the dignity to hunt side by side with other hunters in the most equal manner possible to them.

Thanks for your help

PS I really need your help with these emails, so please forward my message to everyone in your mailbox. Doug Gentile said support in this manner would be taken into account when they go to decide my case. Thanks Again