The NSSF has a new program called Hunting Work$ which they are bringing to New York.
WICZ reports:
“… A newly formed group called “Hunting Works For New York” is spreading the word about the economic impact the outdoors sport has on the state and local counties. “We have people who come from other parts of the state who know this is a great place to hunt,” says Brendan O’Bryan, Manager of Government Relations with the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of Hunting Works For New York … “They spend a lot of money,” says Larry Steiner, Co-Chair of Hunting Works For New York … The organization says hunting is not often recognized as the revenue machine that it is, and they aim to educate the public on what money can be made from the sport …”
That is all well and good, but the reason the state legislature is not much interested in hunting is because the aforementioned revenue stream does not include money from stakeholders going to politicians in the form of campaign contributions. Are they going to address this?
From their website:
“Is it going to be “political?”
Hunting Works For New York is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization. Most people from New York are avid hunters and shooters regardless of political party identification.
What specifically is the organization going to be doing and involved in?
Hunting Works For New York partners have a story to tell about the important economic chain involving the hunting and shooting sports. Hunting specifically supports thousands of jobs, both rural and urban, across the state of New York, and our goal is to provide a unified voice for all of these stakeholders. The Hunting Works For New York partnership will monitor public policy decisions and weigh in on hunting-related issues that impact New York jobs. Hunting Works For New York will serve as a vehicle to facilitate important public policy dialogue and to tell the story of how our hunting heritage positively affects conservation and jobs throughout the state.
No, they’re not.
The state has functioned on the time-honored tradition of Cash is King since before my great-grandparents were born. Albany is not about to change because (yet another) group thinks they are going to have a rational discussion of the issues with politicians and influence their public policy decisions simply by presenting them with the facts.
Hunting Works is a nice idea that is unlikely to accomplish it’s mission.