A bill has been passed in the NYS Senate allowing 12-year-olds to hunt with a gun legally.

Due to the steady decline in the number of hunters, it seems like the some are tempted to pull out all the stops to keep the sport alive. Senator Pat Gallivan tells WIVBThis is something that might attract younger people and allow families that have the tradition of hunting with their kids, brothers, sisters or whatever the case might be, it would allow them to start earlier and hopefully preserve the tradition.

The bill still has to make it through the Democrat-controlled Assembly and if passed the young hunters would still need to complete a course in both Hunter Education and be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a person who is 21 years or older. Recent legislation lowered the minimum age from 14 to 12 years of age for youth hunters to purchase a Bowhunting license for deer and bear hunting.

Do you think a 12-year-old is mature enough to decide to kill an animal? Are they mature enough to handle a shotgun or rifle? The answer is probably yes to both if they come from a hunting family.

Do you think this will increase hunting accidents? Join the conversation in the comments below.

Bonus Video:

[H/T to WYRK]

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