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<\/p>\nSign Here<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe NY State Senate\n<\/div>\n
\n being considered to allow 12 year-old youngsters to bow hunt. I know
\nhow difficult it is for an accomplished bow hunter to place a killing
\nshot; let alone a child without years of practice. More over I feel very
\n strongly that individuals this young don’t understand what murder nor
\ndeath is. Our Judicial System does not deem a teenager competent enough
\nto face criminal charges for manslaughter; why should it be any
\ndifferent if accused of causing grave harm, suffering or death to a deer
\n or any other animal? What sort of respect for life and sense of
\nresponsibility will such a law instill in our kids? <\/div>\n
\ncontrol that older defendants are expected to have. The rationale for
\ntreating troubled teenagers more leniently than adults was expressed by
\nJustice Anthony Kennedy in Roper v. Simmons, 543 US 551, which outlawed
\nthe death penalty for juveniles. \u201c[A]s any parent knows,\u201d wrote Justice
\nKennedy, teenagers are more likely than adults to demonstrate \u201c\u2018a lack
\nof maturity and an underdeveloped sense of responsibility…qualities
\n[that] often result in impetuous and ill-considered actions and
\ndecisions.\u2019\u201d <\/div>\n
\nalmost never is there a fast, \u201cclean kill\u201d; more than likely the target
\nanimal will run and never be humanely put down. I truly feel our
\nteenagers have not developed a sense of responsibility or compassion to
\nengage in such a practice of “sport hunting”. It is unconscionable in my
\n opinion that the DEC would endorse such a bill. Without being the voice
\n opposed to such legislation we may never change for the better any
\nrulings on hunting or trapping. Please write to our NYS Senate
\nrepresentatives, please write to Majority Leader Skelos and ask them to
\nreconsider passage of this bill. <\/div>\n