On Thursday, April 2, the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will take public testimony on House Bill 5669, sponsored by state Representatives Arthur Handy (D-18), Edith Ajello (D-1), Thomas Palangio (D-3), and John Lombardi (D-8). H.5669 seeks to ban the use of most lead ammunition and require the use of non-lead ammunition approved as “non-toxic” by the Director of the Department of Environmental Management.

As we have seen with attempts to ban the use of lead ammunition in other states, arguments in favor of these bans are based on faulty science. It is important to fully understand the facts concerning traditional hunting ammunition so Rhode Islanders are not mislead into adopting a ban that could significantly impact hunting in Rhode Island. There has been no sound scientific evidence stating that traditional ammunition is having a population-level impact on any species in Rhode Island, which is how wildlife is managed. Additionally, a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in North Dakota to address blood lead levels in hunters and their families did not find a health risk for those who consume wild game taken with lead ammunition.

A ban on lead ammunition would be disastrous for hunters and conservation as alternatives are significantly more expensive. Hunters and target shooters are the largest supporters of federal conservation efforts through excise taxes levied on ammunition and firearms, and an increase in the cost of ammunition would reduce ammunition sales, affecting funding for vital conservation programs. Since 1937, hunters and target shooters have contributed more than 7.2 billion dollars through the Pittman-Robertson Act for the benefit of all wildlife species.

The Committee will meet upon rise of the House in Room 205 of the Statehouse. Hunters and shooters are encouraged to attend in opposition to this anti-hunting bill. Please also contact members of the Committee and politely ask them to oppose H.5669. Contact information for committee members is provided below.

House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources:

Representative Arthur Handy (D-18)

(401) 785-8996

Rep-handy@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative David Bennett (D-20)

(401) 648-1171

Rep-bennet@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Blake Filippi (I-36)

(401) 222-2466

Rep-filippi@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Micahel Marcello (D-41)

(401) 647-5905

Rep-marcello@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Helio Melo (D-64)

(401) 222-2738

Rep-melo@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative John Lombardi (D-8)

(401) 453-3900

Rep-lombardi@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Joseph McNamara (D-19)

(401) 941-8319

Rep-mcnamara@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Eileen Naughton (D-21)

(401) 222-7904

Rep-naughton@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative William O’Brien (D-54)

(401) 440-4063

Rep-obrien@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Jeremiah O’Grady (D-46)

(401) 725-7163

Rep-ogrady@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Thomas Palangio (D-3)

(401) 248-8877

Rep-palangio@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Justin Price (R-39)

(401) 222-2259

Rep-price@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Scott Slater (D-10)

(401) 741-7641

Rep-slater@rilin.state.ri.us

Representative Carlos Tobon (D-58)

(401) 222-2466

Rep-tobon@rilin.state.ri.us