Letter to the Editor: Former Mayor of Colts Neck Petitions Against Firearms/Hunting Ordinance Changes

The Colts Neck Firearms Ordinance will be undergoing some major changes with little or no public input unless residents show up at the public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, August 13, 7:30, at Town Hall.

Several residents have been following the whole hunting/deer management issue for the past year and were disappointed that the Committee chose to conduct the hearing at a time when most people are on vacation or generally disengaged from township affairs.

The Mayor has decided not to publicize the issue any more than the minimum required by law despite the fact that people came out in droves last year to protest similar changes.

This version is even more incendiary, because the discharge of firearms for hunting purposes will be allowed on as little as five acres and a crossbow could be discharged from as little as 150 feet from an occupied dwelling. Modifications to the ordinance failed last year because of the public outcry.

Apparently the Committee is under the mistaken impression that if our residents do not regularly attend meetings or keep up to date with the township website, they are not concerned about the safety issues that will emerge if this ordinance is passed as proposed.

A petition is circulating that was borne out of frustration for this lack of public coverage. Residents circulating the petition believe that even though it is difficult to get many signatures this time of year, their efforts will serve to make the general public more aware of the issues, as well as highlight the importance of attending the public hearing.

I invite all residents who are concerned about these safety issues to oppose these changes by signing the petition. The petition can be found by emailing me at roseann10@verizon.net. I encourage residents who receive the petition make several copies, and bring the collected signatures to the Wednesday night Town Hall meeting.

Rose Ann Scotti

Former Mayor Colts Neck Township

To read the petition, see below.

For a copy of the petition, email: roseann10@verizon.net

Petition to Oppose Changes in Discharge and Hunting Regulations in Colts Neck

While we recognize the concern with the growth in the deer population in Colts Neck, we, the undersigned, strongly oppose the proposed changes in the Township regulations as put forth by the Township Committee and Wildlife Management Committee in Colts Neck. We find it reprehensible that we are forced to express our position again, within only one year, and that this vital issue is being presented during vacation time for most homeowners.

Specifically we believe:

• Changing the “no discharge” law to allow the use of firearms for hunting purposes on as little as 5 acres and reducing the bow hunting boundaries from the existing 450 feet to the State MINIMUM of 150 feet from an occupied dwelling endangers the safety of our residents in their own homes and on their own property.

• The proposed changes do not substantiate to what degree they would address the deer overpopulation issue. There is no statistical evidence that hunting will solve the problem, in fact, studies indicate the reverse to be true. We would like to see a positive “risk vs. reward” analysis in support of these proposed changes.

• The proposed changes will invite intrusion by non-township resident hunters, who may develop other agendas, with little oversight by police.

o We do not want to increase the stress of repeated hunting requests by strangers.

o We do not want to become known as a hunting junket destination.

o We do want to see more hunters’ pickup trucks combing our streets. This is already a

o We do not want to see armed, binocular-toting strangers peering into our yards and

o We do not want to hear even more frightening gunfire near our homes.

• Since hunting permits allow only one deer per hunter, the relatively few Colts Neck resident hunters would not account for many kills. In order to make a dent in the deer population, we would be inviting more poachers and the like in addition to the bona fide hunters. There are already illegal tree stands in Green Acres. We would be exacerbating this existing problem.

• The discharge of firearms and hunting on or close to our property is not the answer to the deer problem, but rather the creation of a potentially larger problem that will impact our safety.

o These proposed changes, which loosen hunting regulations and invite more strangers frequent problem. windows and familiarizing themselves with our possessions and daily habits. to our neighborhoods, could expose the Township or it’s governing body to successful liability claims and could invite lawsuits from victims of hunting accidents or other illegal intrusions by strangers posing as hunters.

• We suggest additional deer crossing signs be added to key roadways. We have not seen new signs around town in many years.