BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) After much debate, Erie County Legislators approved a new law that will allow 12 and 13-year-old teenagers to hunt deer and other large game.
But, will the vote stand?
It is expected that Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz will reject the vote - as he has done in the past - and then the issue will return to the legislature where 8 of its 11 members must cast their support for the proposed new law.
This is our second chance to get it right," said Legislator Frank Todaro, who was one of the bill's sponsors.
Erie County is one of the few counties across that doesn't allow 12 and 13-year-olds to hunt deer and big game.
Teenagers must go through extensive training before they would eligible for hunting deer.
"This isn't about big game hunting in Buffalo or Amherst," Todaro.
The proposed law passed by a 7-3 count (Legislator Chris Greene was absent).
Voting in favor of the hunting law was Todaro and fellow legislators Lindsay Lorigo, John Mills, Tim Meyers, John Gilmour, John Bargnesi and Michael Kooshoian.
Voting against the law were Jeanne Vinal, Lawrence Dupre and Taisha St. Jean Tard.
Dupre and St. Jean Tard said voting for the bill within two weeks of the Tops 5/14 shooting massacre didn't sit right with either of them.
"I'm not against guns but this law is wrong," Vinal said.
Erie County lawmakers approve allowing 12 and 13-year-olds to hunt
Erie County lawmakers approve allowing 12 and 13-year-olds to hunt
