Backers of Senate Bill 1221, which would ban hunting of black bears and bobcats using hounds, failed to earn enough votes to pass the California State Assembly’s Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee this afternoon.

“It all came down to last minute telephone calls from hunters to key Assembly members on the committee,” said Evan Heusinkveld, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance’s director of state services. “The folks who made those calls made the difference today.”

From the beginning, sportsmen and women have outworked the anti-hunters, packing hearing rooms, and flooding the offices of legislators with calls. Despite this, the Senate ignored the voice of their constituents and passed SB 1221 by just two votes, which sent the bill to the Assembly.

Today’s committee hearing was no different as hunters from all over the Golden State packed the room. This time, however, when it was time to vote, the anti’s came up short. Assemblyman Ricardo Lara was absent, and Assemblymen Mike Gatto and Roger Hernandez abstained. This development left proponents of the hunting ban short of the seven votes needed to move the bill forward.

The battle is not over however, as the committee Chairman is able to bring the bill back up for a re-consideration vote (basically a re-vote) within the next week.

“It will all come down to which side is able to generate the most contacts to their Assembly members,” explained Heusinkveld. “Now more than ever, it is critical for all California hunters to contact their Assembly member today and ask for a no vote on SB 1221.”

Take Action! California sportsmen must call their state assembly member in opposition to Senate Bill 1221. To find your member’s contact information visit the Legislative Action Center.

Well it can be done .Good for California Sportsmen.Keep those phone lines buzzing.

Congratulations to California's hunting public, hope they are able to defeat the measure.

If they can turn this one back, it might help turn back some of the other stuff the anti's are wanting to push down peoples throats.

Way to go

California is bearadise, that would have been horrible to lose that to those assholes.

Bearadise...I like that MOA. We do have a crap load of bears, we took in almost 60 into our taxidermy shop last year.Hope this year is as good.

Max

Thats great to hear, but the real fight i believe is yet to come. Keep up the pressure!

Right you are Doug, this fight is not over yet but I think we have the upper hand. We need all hunters in Cali to make a phone call or send a simple e-mail to their representative...it's so easy and really dose have an impact.

Fight on....Max

Update:

Today, the California Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee held a special hearing specifically to revote on Senate Bill 1221, a bill banning the hunting of black bears and bobcats using hounds. The Committee passed the bill by a vote of 8-4, with one abstention.

This “do-over” comes just one week after the bill failed to earn enough votes to pass out of the Committee. Following the defeat, anti-hunting groups lobbied Committee Chairman Jared Huffman (D-Marin) to reconsider the bill and to hold another vote, giving them another chance to pressure reluctant legislators.

“It is very discouraging that anti-hunting legislators keep changing the rules to make sure sportsmen lose their rights,” said Evan Heusinkveld, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance director of state services. “The anti’s had their shot and failed. Allowing extra time to twist arms and holding a revote during a special hearing demonstrates how much the committee vote was rigged from the start. We will not give up, however.”

Members of the Committee that voted to pass SB 1221:

Chairman Jared Huffman

Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield

Assemblywoman Nora Campos

Assemblyman Paul Fong

Assemblyman Mike Gatto

Assemblyman Ben Hueso

Assemblyman Ricardo Lara

Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada

Members of the Committee that voted against SB 1221:

Vice-Chair Linda Halderman

Assemblyman Bill Berryhill

Assemblywoman Beth Gaines

Assemblyman Brian Jones

Members of the Committee that abstained from voting:

Assemblyman Roger Hernandez

Senate Bill 1221 will next head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee in August. You can find updates as they happen on USSA’s Protect California Hound Hunting Facebook page and on USSA’s website.