SB464, the last Sunday hunting bill still alive before the General Assembly was defeated in the House Agriculture Committee.
This version of the bill would have allowed hunting on private lands. An amendment was offered by the patron, Senator Ralph Northam, to expand the language to include Virginia Wildlife Management Areas and approved military bases but the amendment failed to pass.
Senator Northam acknowledged the declining number of hunters and argued that allowing Sunday hunting is a great way to get children away from the computers and video games and get them outdoors.
There was a strong contingent of supporters, including the NRA, and Sunday Hunting Coalition who spoke in favor of the bill.
Delegate Thomas Wright (R) 61st District, himself and avid hunter, commented that this bill comes up year after year and noted that the attempt to narrow the focus of the bill is indicative of the general lack of support.
Delegate Jim Edmunds (R) 60th District, commented that Sunday hunting is divisive among the hunting community and commented that issues like this which may further divide their ranks would not be wise.
Delegate Edmunds made the motion to, “very gently lay the bill on the table”, which passed, thus ending the discussion for 2012.
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