Bensalem pigeon shoot highlights need for new law in Pennsylvania

January 1, 2010
Philadelphia Animal Advocate Examiner
Megan Drake 

Pigeon shoots.

What sort of vision does that phrase conjure up for you? What is a live pigeon shoot, exactly?

Glad you asked! Pigeons are captured in places like NYC where they are considered nothing more than pests or are bred on factory farms in deplorable conditions not unlike the horrors endured by egg laying chickens and puppy mill dogs to become fodder for gun-toting humans that claim it is a sport to shoot frightened, defenseless birds. The purpose? Good question. It appears as though the only answer is… because they can!

To start, pigeons are placed into mechanical launches that sit about 30 yards away from the humans with guns. The birds are propelled from the launcher into the air for target practice. Some will be shot while they are airborne; others are shot while on the ground. The majority are not killed immediately and either suffer with gunshot injuries or drown if they happen to land in a body of water. Some birds are even tethered to the ground before a gun is aimed at them, thereby ensuring a kill. Ironic that this is called a sport by many.

The reality of pigeon shoots in Philadelphia can be seen at places like the Philadelphia Gun Club in Bensalem, Bucks County. On December 5 the animal advocacy group SHARK videotaped the live pigeon shoot held there. See video below.

As a point of explanation, first, pigeon shoots are legal in Pennsylvania because there is currently no law against them. In fact, Pennsylvania is the only state where live pigeon shoots are still held. Currently, live pigeon shoots are outlawed completely in fifteen states and considered an act of animal cruelty in eight others. But Pennsylvania allows them. Hence, many out of state residents travel to Pennsylvania for a chance to participate.

Hopefully, not for long.

Bills have been introduced in the Pennsylvania House by Representatives Eugene DePasquale (D-York County) and John Maher (R-Allegheny) and in the Senate by Patrick Browne (D-Lehigh). The legislation would ban shoots in which captive birds are tethered or launched in front of the shooter. The bills specifically say they cannot be used to restrict traditional hunting regulated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

It is estimated more than 22,000 birds are used as targets every year in Pennsylvania for these shoots. If you agree live pigeon shoots should be outlawed please contact your legislator and ask them to vote for these bills. The only way Pennsylvania lawmakers will pass these bills is if concerned citizens let them know how they feel about the issue.

By clicking here you can look up federal and state legislators by zip code. Phone numbers and email contact pages are provided. You may even want to bookmark the site for future reference…

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