Group Pushes for Ban of Live Pigeon Shoots

Harrisburg, Pa. - A group called Showing Animals Respect and Kindness is circling. They want to Pennsylvania lawmakers to eliminate live pigeon shoots, which they say happen every other week somewhere in the state and attract shooters from other states where pigeon shooting is illegal.

"They come here and use Pennsylvania like a toilet to do here what they'd be arrested and jailed for in their own homes," SHARK founding president Steve Hindi said.

The debate is not new, but SHARK is re-energized thanks to a $1 million contribution from TV personality Bob Barker, who wants the money spent in the fight against pigeon shoots.

"A million dollars is gonna shut down these shoots. It's just a matter of how many people's political careers have to be damaged. I don't know and I don't care," Hindi said.

State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, says he's pro-gun and pro-hunter, but says live pigeon shoots are not sporting. He has authored legislation banning such events. "You can simultaneously think pigeons are yucky and not support this inhumane practice," he said.

But DePasquale has no idea if or when the bill will move forward. Similar legislation has languished at the Capitol for 25 years.

"The National Rifle Association owns this building and a whole bunch of the people who work here," Hindi said.

A pigeon-shoot supporter who didn’t want to be identified said he had a couple concerns. First of all, he said pigeons are "rats with wings" that some cities like Philadelphia actually poison to eradicate. Secondly, he said pigeon shoots are often important fund raisers for charities and, perhaps most importantly to him, he sees this as the first step toward eradicating hunting of animals such as deer and turkeys.