| 1 | 1 | | 82R8836 BPG-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Hunter H.C.R. No. 98 |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Air-powered guns have become increasingly popular |
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| 7 | 7 | | among adults due to a variety of technological advancements, but |
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| 8 | 8 | | Texas law does not contain provisions that specifically address |
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| 9 | 9 | | their use; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Dating back to at least the 16th century, |
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| 11 | 11 | | air-powered guns were used on the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark |
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| 12 | 12 | | expedition; however, in recent times, most air rifles have been BB |
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| 13 | 13 | | and pellet guns designed for youth; the development of more |
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| 14 | 14 | | powerful and accurate air rifles has continued apace since the |
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| 15 | 15 | | mid-1970s, and today, "magnum" hunting rifles with a range of 30 to |
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| 16 | 16 | | 50 yards are popular for hunting small game such as squirrel and |
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| 17 | 17 | | rabbit, while the highest powered rifles carry the foot-pounds of |
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| 18 | 18 | | energy necessary to take down large game; air gun shooting is |
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| 19 | 19 | | actively promoted by the National Rifle Association; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, With demand for these modern air rifles growing, a |
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| 21 | 21 | | number of states have enacted laws regarding their use; for |
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| 22 | 22 | | instance, Wisconsin outlaws them for the hunting of deer, bear, or |
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| 23 | 23 | | game birds, while in Maryland, they may not be used to hunt turkeys |
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| 24 | 24 | | in the spring season or waterfowl and must generate a muzzle energy |
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| 25 | 25 | | of at least 1,200 foot-pounds to be legal for deer and bear hunting; |
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| 26 | 26 | | Missouri recently added a section to the state's game laws that |
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| 27 | 27 | | specifically addresses the use of big-bore air guns for deer |
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| 28 | 28 | | hunting, requiring a minimum of .40 caliber; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, The rising prevalence of high-powered air rifles may |
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| 30 | 30 | | necessitate the enactment of appropriate regulations within the |
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| 31 | 31 | | Lone Star State to maintain the vitality of the hunting industry and |
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| 32 | 32 | | to protect public safety; now, therefore, be it |
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| 33 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 34 | 34 | | hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house |
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| 35 | 35 | | of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study the |
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| 36 | 36 | | safe and effective use of high-powered air rifles, including such |
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| 37 | 37 | | issues as hunter safety and which types of rifles are capable of |
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| 38 | 38 | | making clean and ethical kills of larger game such as deer and |
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| 39 | 39 | | buffalo; and, be it further |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including |
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| 41 | 41 | | findings and recommendations, to the 83rd Texas Legislature when it |
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| 42 | 42 | | convenes in January 2013. |
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