I am writing to express my strong opposition to Assembly Bills A1089 and A1898, currently under consideration in the New York State Assembly. These bills are intended to prohibit the use of lead ammunition on some or all land in New York, both public (A1089) and private (A1898). Outright mandates that compel hunters to use nonlead ammunition place unreasonable restrictions on hunters and fail to consider viable alternatives that have successfully reduced environmental lead contamination in other use cases.

While the issue of environmental lead contamination is worthy of attention and action, a statewide ban on lead ammunition is not the appropriate tool for the job. Rather than imposing a costly and burdensome mandate, New York should devote resources toward educating hunters about nonlead ammunition and providing voluntary incentives for their use. These strategies have proven to be effective in reducing lead usage whilst ensuring continued participation in wildlife management efforts and hunting.

Such mandates as those proposed in A1089 and A1898 create significant financial and logistical challenges for a large swath of the New York hunting community, as obtaining nonlead ammunition is both more difficult and more expensive. This bill has the potential to disproportionately harm members of the hunting community who, for logistical and financial reasons, depend on readily available lead ammunition in their pursuit of game.

As your constituent and being a deer hunter, I urge you to oppose A1089 and A1898 and redirect your support toward lead ammunition policies that promote education, voluntary adoption, and collaborative engagement with the hunting community. The sportsmen and sportswomen of New York have long proven to be responsible stewards of the state’s natural resources, and they should be trusted to make informed choices in the absence of top-down government mandates.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I respectfully ask that you vote against A1089 and A1898 in the defense of practical, responsible conservation efforts.