July 14, 2010
Bill would allow bowhunting too
close to homes for comfort
Star-Ledger Editorial Board,
07/14/2010 5:41 AM
P-f-f-t. Thwang!
Know what that is? It's the sound of a razor-sharp, made-to-kill arrow
as it zips across your lawn, maybe past your kid's head as he plays with
the dog, and sticks into your back door.
Something to think about if you live next to legal hunting grounds in
New Jersey, because the Legislature has approved a bill that shrinks the
buffer between bowhunters and homes from 450 feet to 150 feet.
Even if William Tell and Robin Hood are the hunters, it's a needless
gamble with public safety. A good bowhunter can kill from 50 yards, so
an errant shot could go past the buffer.
"The idea that somebody could be 150 feet from a house, shooting an
arrow into a deer, is pretty disturbing to people in my district," state
Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) said. Even more disturbing: The hunter
could miss.
Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R-Sussex), the sponsor of the bill, says the
state needs to keep deer "in check." The buffer must be shrunk
drastically because deer are smart enough to flee from hunters and move
close to homes and buildings where the law now protects them.
Makes you wonder which are smarter, deer or legislators.
At least there's some sanity to the bill: The safety zone around schools
and playgrounds - and for hunters using shotguns - will remain 450 feet.
Anthony Mauro, chairman of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, believes
anyone with concerns is an alarmist.
"Am I concerned?" Mauro said. "No. What you're depending on is people to
use their common sense and judgment."
We're hoping Gov. Chris Christie uses his judgment and shoots down this
bill.