| HB 301 Signed into Law |
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when our lobbyist discovered a bill called SB 229, titled the “Animal Fighting Act.” This bill was drawn up by the Georgia Legal Professionals for Animals and it was backed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). This bill, which included language that would have made dog hunting illegal in was able to bring it to the attention of Scott Tanner, a consultant on governmental affairs active in the state legislature, and Attorney Paul Wagner, vice president of the Small Game Association. After reading it, both agreed that we needed to stop the bill because it would have stopped dog hunting in GHFF members, we were able to kill the bill in committee. After the 2006 session, GHFF’s lobbyist, Kay Godwin, suggested GHFF should draw up an anti-dog-fighting bill that would protect hunters, competition events and pet owners, so I contacted Paul and after a few months we had a rough draft. GHFF knew this would be a tough fight and we felt no one group would be able to do it alone, so Kay contacted Scott and asked him to find a place for GHFF to hold a meeting and invite several groups to help craft a bill that we could all support. The people invited to the meeting were Scott Tanner, with Joe Tanner & Associates; Gail Laberge, of the Georgia Canine Coalition; Paul Wagner, of the Small Game Association; Glen Dowling and David Waller of the Georgia Wildlife Federation/CamoCoalition; an employee of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division and Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin). At the meeting Paul and David both presented drafts. After five hours of discussion and wordsmithing we emerged with the best of both drafts which became the first draft eventually to become known as HB 301. Rep. Knight suggested that we ask Rep. Bobby Reese (R- Sugar Hill) to sponsor the bill, and said he would be willing to help him. All groups agreed, and when asked, Rep. Reese accepted. We could not have picked two better people. From 2006 to the passage of HB 301 in 2008, there were several changes to the bill. All the changes improved it, and they were all agreed on by the groups involved in creating the original draft. In the 2008 session, our lobbyist, William Woodall, helped GHFF monitor HB 301 and several times in the final days before the passage of HB 301 the anti-hunting groups tried to insert anti-hunting language into the bill. With the help of William and those groups named above we were able to stop them. At no time did any animal-rights group sit at the table and work on this bill, and there is no language in the bill by any of those groups. You can thank Rep. Reese and Rep. Knight for that. As president of GHFF, I want give a personal thanks to the people in the original group for all their hard work and dedication to HB 301. I want to thank the GHFF members who sent e-mails and made phone calls at key times. You made a difference. I also want to thank Rep. David Ralston (Chairman Judiciary Non-Civil). Without his help we would never have had chance to pass HB 301. I also want to thank the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Reese. He took a lot of heat, but he never once backed down. He kept HB 301 intact. I also want to thank Rep. Knight for his hard work and for supporting Rep. Reese. What I really liked about these two men was the fire I saw in their eyes when they felt someone was trying to take advantage of them. These three gentlemen deserve the thanks and support of not only the hunters and pet owners but all citizens of 301. |
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