May 16, 2007

Hon. Brad Roae

162B East Wing

PO Box 202006

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2006

Dear Representative Roae:

I'm writing to ask that you support HB 73, which prohibits live pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania, if and when it comes to the floor for a vote.  Pennsylvania is one of the last states to outlaw live pigeon shoots – a situation which, with your help, I am hopeful will soon be remedied.

There is little rational defense for pigeon shoots.  Defenders of the shoots would have HB 73 defeated on the grounds that:

1) "Pigeon shoots are traditional."  Tradition does not, however, justify continued cruelty.  Proponents of cockfighting have also argued that their pastime is traditional, yet every state except Louisiana has now outlawed cockfighting on the grounds of cruelty.

2) "Outlawing pigeon shoots is the first step towards outlawing other forms of hunting."  Pigeon shoots are not a form of hunting, they are a sport and a competition.  Although there are examples of other tamed game birds being released into the wild in order to provide hunters with target animals, they do not compare with pigeon shoots, in which birds are released one at a time and shot at relatively close range.  There is no "hunt" involved in a pigeon shoot.

3) "Pigeons are filthy animals, nothing more than rats with wings."  This may or may not be true, but has little to do with the function of a pigeon shoot.  Again, these shoots are considered to be sporting events, not a mode of pest eradication.  Portraying wanton cruelty as a health and safety measure is a shady rationalization at best.  Were rats to be rounded up and housed in order that people could gather together and practice their shooting skills on them (while also running the risk of allowing some of the "filthy" animals to escape), the event would be no less objectionable, with respect to the intent of the participants, than are pigeon shoots.

4) "Politicians will risk votes by supporting this bill."  Which is to say, politicians will fear incurring the wrath of hunters and NRA supporters.  But again:  pigeon shoots have nothing to do with hunting, nor does banning them risk anyone's right to possess firearms.  Beyond that, I would simply ask you to bear in mind that those members of the public who support the passage of HB 73 also take the time to visit their voting booths.  And we remember.

Yours sincerely & etc. . . .