HARRISBURG – State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) will soon reintroduce legislation to remove the prohibition on hunting on Sundays.
“Since 2018, I sponsored legislation to repeal this prohibition. Through numerous meetings and compromise, the addition of three Sundays was achieved in Senate Bill 147, now Act 107 of 2019,” continued Laughlin. “Although hunters have the opportunity to hunt on three Sundays, I continue to advocate to end the Sunday hunting prohibition.”
“The Sunday hunting prohibition is one of the last vestiges of our commonwealth’s antiquated ‘Blue Laws,’ which were created a very long time ago, some dating back to colonial times, to prevent certain activities deemed inappropriate for a Sunday,” Laughlin explained. “It’s time we completely remove this prohibition. Pennsylvanians should have the right to hunt on a Sunday.”
Laughlin’s bill would have Pennsylvania join the 39 states that have no limits on Sunday hunting. Even some of the 10 states that, like Pennsylvania, limit hunting are far more lenient in their restrictions than Pennsylvania is. Only two of those 10 states – Maine and Massachusetts – still have a complete ban on Sunday hunting.
Hunting provides economic benefits to the commonwealth. It supports jobs, generates revenue, and sustains businesses, from sporting goods stores to rural diners.
“We know from surveying hunters and potential hunters that the top reason people have walked away from hunting is a lack of time,” said Laughlin. “It’s clear allowing hunting on only three Sundays hasn’t provided enough freedom to encourage more people to purchase hunting licenses. Hunting is a tradition passed down through families, a bonding experience between generations, lifting this restriction will not only preserve this tradition but also ensure that it can be fully enjoyed and passed on to future generations.”
Though some have raised concerns about the safety of increased hunting, there haven’t been reported safety issues arising out of the three days of Sunday hunting since it started in 2020, or from the hunting of the few types of game (foxes, crows and coyotes) currently allowed on any Sunday.
In the previous legislative session, a broad coalition of stakeholders – including sportsmen and women, as well as the agricultural community – collaborated to address concerns and propose solutions for ending the Sunday hunting ban. These efforts led to considerations such as implementing an agricultural access permit list, strengthening trespassing laws and allowing big game harvested to mitigate crop damage to be delivered to processors.
“I want to give the needed latitude to the Game Commission to increase hunting and trapping opportunities, and rebuild interest in hunting, which will end up benefiting all of Pennsylvania,” Laughlin said.
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Laughlin’s website at www.senatorlaughlin.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @senatorlaughlin.
Contact: David Kozak 717-787-8927