LANSING —Today, the House of Representatives approved House Bill 5180, allowing pneumatic airguns to be used during bow season. State Rep. Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) offered an amendment to limit the use of these airguns to firearm season only, but that amendment was rejected. In response, Rep. Cambensy issued the following statement:
“I'm hopeful that the state Senate will adopt the amendment limiting the use of pneumatic air guns to firearm season only. Until we know the extent of how this new technology will affect the deer herds in the U.P. and Northern Lower Michigan, I stand with our sportsmen and women who want to take a cautious approach to the usage of these airguns. If this legislation defines these pneumatic devices as a firearm due to how powerful they are, then we should also agree that they should only be allowed during firearm season.”