Text of July 2 press release.

(Camp Hill) -- Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) says farmers who have allowed hunting on their land will likely continue to do so after the enactment of legislation that increases liability protection for landowners. The legislation (House Bill 13) was signed into law by Governor Ed Rendell on June 30th.

"Farmers now can be more confident that their livelihood won't be at risk when they open their land to hunters. We have wanted our good relationships with hunters to continue because they help us control wildlife damage to our crops while we provide them a place to enjoy recreational activities," said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer. "The General Assembly and Governor Rendell worked effectively on a bi-partisan basis to tackle the problem in record time."

House Bill 13 amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA), which for more than four decades has provided liability protection for actions that occur on a landowner's property as a result of recreational activity -- such as hunting, fishing, swimming and hiking -- as long as the landowner does not charge a fee. The need to amend RULWA was sparked by a 2006 court case in which the owner of a Lehigh County orchard was found partially liable for injuries caused by a hunter's stray bullet, which struck a woman a half-mile away.

House Bill 13 had widespread support, as the House and Senate unanimously passed the measure. Farm Bureau specifically recognized Representative Harry Readshaw (36th District, Allegheny County), who was the prime sponsor of the legislation, and Senator Rob Wonderling (24th District, including Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery Counties), who sponsored legislation in the Senate.

Farm Bureau notes that the new law balances the rights of landowners with the rights of potential victims. "While the law provides reasonable liability safeguards for farmers and other landowners, the law does not prevent an injured party from recovering damages from the individual who caused the injury," concluded Shaffer.

The new law takes effect immediately.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is a voluntary organization with a membership of more than 42,000 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across the Keystone State.

Contact: Gary Swan, (717) 761-2740

The Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza Pictures: 2007

GRANT HELPS WATERWAY CONSERVATION OFFICERS:

A driver in a boat who has been drinking, is just as dangerous as a drunk driver in an automobile. Now we have boating under the influence (BUI) cases which are continually investigated by the WCOs serving the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Recently, the Erie Insurance Group donated a $27,200 grant to the PF&BC to purchase 80 video cameras to use on patrol.

Determining the cause for a BUI suspect is more difficult on water, since there are no lanes, lines or other traffic markings. Recording actual scenes surely helps in the prosecution of offenders. Alcohol was the major factor in four recreational boating fatalities over the past two years. Thanks You - Erie Insurance Group. 

THE ANTIS:

Animal rights activists and actual terrorists have been attacking laboratories, veterinary offices and fur producing farms. They do this to intimidate and further their political aggenda.

In Arizona, Gov. Janet Napolitano has signed a Bill - No. 2295, prohibiting animal and ecological terrorism; which terms terrorism as organized crime. The Bill was modeled after a draft Bill which was prepared by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. While in PA, Rep. Robert Gotshall (R) of Hatfield introduced HB 213; which is now in the State Judiciary Committee. Terrorism in PA would be a criminal offense.

In Ohio, SB 9 takes eco-terrorism one step further by protecting hunting preserves. Lawmakers in the entire nation are looking into the dangers of eco-terrorism.