Hello Fellow New Yorkers,

Here I am one more time asking you all to help defeat bills A11033 and S8228, which will allow 14- and 15-year-olds to hunt big game with firearms under mentored conditions. As I’ve mentioned before, the hunters are calling our lawmakers non-stop to make sure these bills pass. Therefore, it’s up to us to show that we can be just as vocal (however, it is imperative that we are politely vocal.)

If you haven’t contacted Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno yet, please do so now. And if you have, please do so again. I know we can generate more calls and emails than our opposition!

1) Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Tel: 518-455-4911 Fax: 518-455-5459 speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Politely, yet firmly urge Assembly Speaker Silver to use his authority as the leader of our State Assembly to DEFEAT Bill A11033. Remind him that accidental deaths can still occur even with a mentor present. (For more Talking Points, see below.)

2.) Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno Tel: 518-455-3191 Fax: 518-455-2448 bruno@senate.state.ny.us

Politely, yet firmly urge Senate Majority Leader Bruno to use his authority as the leader of our State Senate to DEFEAT Bill S8228. Remind him that accidental deaths can still occur even with a mentor present. (For more Talking Points, see below.)


Talking Points:

  • Most accidental deaths occur while hunting deer and bears, and these bills invite children into the “big game” arena. Youths are not permitted to marry, drive, or drink alcohol at age 14, and NY State should not be in the business of allowing youths to handle weapons, placing them in mortal danger and killing animals. And even with a “mentor” by their side, children can be impulsive and lack sound judgment.

  • An upstate pro-hunting daily newspaper reported that according to the Department of Conservation, the firearms injury rate per participant is relatively high among the youngest hunters compared to other age groups. (Post Standard, Syracuse, NY 3/2003).

  • Some children who are familiar with weapons tend to use them readily for suicide and/or shooting sprees in schools.

    • Editor’s Note:Being vocal!



    Editor’s Note: Shortly after learning about the horrors of factory farming, animal testing, and the fur industry while having what was supposed to be a causal lunch with Isabella Rossellini in the summer of 2000, Mary Max became a full-time activist.

    She began her activism by taking on Farm Sanctuary’s No Veal campaign in New York City. She then added to her activism by starting a weekly e-mail alert service and screening such films as The Witness and Peaceable Kingdom in mainstream theaters.

    In addition to maintaining her alert service, Mary stays busy lobbying city, state, and federal lawmakers regarding a variety of animal protection laws and working to implement a New York State resolution that allows plant-based meals in all New York State schools. She relishes her role as an active board member of The Humane Society of the U.S., Humane USA-PAC, and The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food. She also enjoys serving on the advisory board for The League of Humane Voters of New York City as well as on the advisory council of Farm Sanctuary. Mary is a devoted mom to seven rescued kitties and one rescued dog and is still the blushing bride of artist Peter Max.


    Edited for style.