Sunday hunting bill to be considered on the Senate floor
Christian Action League
May 27, 2015
Senate members in the Senate Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee took up HB 640 – Outdoor Heritage Act today. The bill is commonly called the Sunday hunting bill because it repeals a 145 year-old ban on hunting with firearms on “The Lord’s Day.”
The Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS), which was introduced today and added a provision that hunters would have to wait until after noon on Sunday before hunting, cleared the committee. The new provision makes a bad bill a better one, but the Christian Action League continues to remain opposed in principle. The bill is calendared to be considered on the Senate floor tomorrow (Thursday, May 28).
Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League told the committee:
“It is easy to get lost in the weeds of this debate. But I want to assure you that I, nor the Christian Action League, is so much concerned about a law or laws that restrict action in a free society as we are in promoting the benefits that accrue from the tradition of a Christian Sabbath. You know, the Dutch used to call the day “God’s dyke” – a bulwark against the insidious inroads of secularism, materialism, and even paganism.”
Read Rev. Creech’s Raleigh News and Observer Op-Ed: How Sunday Hunting Would Weaken the Value of the ‘Lord’s Day.’”
Although Senate members passed the measure in committee today, it appears many of them are still struggling with support for it.
Take Christian Action:
This may be the last opportunity to speak out against the legalization of Sunday hunting with a firearm. Even if you have already done so, please contact your State Senator before 11:00 am tomorrow, Thursday, May 28, and urge him/her to vote “NO” on HB 640 – Outdoor Heritage Act.
The Nation Rifle Association (NRA), one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the nation is actively pressing lawmakers for the passage of this legislation. Without your voice urging them to vote “NO,” the bill is most certain to pass.
Rev. Creech said, “I believe bills of this nature are underestimated in their importance. Creating further distractions to the observance of this special day is at the root of many of our other social problems. I have done what I can to defend this sacred institution. It is my concern that our nation is drifting rapidly into a situation where any value to be derived from a Christian Sabbath is largely lost to the culture. I hope every Christian who believes the 4th Commandment is still pertinent in our time will not be cravenly silent on this matter.”
Contact your State Senator and ask him/her to vote “NO” on HB 640-The Outdoor Heritage Act. If you don’t know who your state Senator is, go to WRAL’s Find Your Lawmakers and type in your address.
