“When atlatls are outlawed,
Only outlaws will have atlatls.”
ABNORMAL Goals:
·
To
network with other organizations nationwide dedicated to the removal of
misdirected atlatl laws.
·
To
decriminalize responsible target
practice with the atlatl in the City Of Austin Parks by 2009.
·
To
legalize hunting game animals with the atlatl in Texas by 2012.
What is
ABNORMAL?
ABNORMAL (Austin Branch of a Network of Organizations
dedicated to the Rectification of Misguided Atlatl Laws) is a nonprofit,
public-interest lobby that provides a voice for those Texans who oppose
prohibitions on aboriginal styles of hunting and the atlatl. We represent the
interests of tens or even hundreds of Texans who behave responsibly with the
atlatl and believe that target practice and hunting (and fishing)
with it should not be a crime. ABNORMAL supports the removal of all criminal
penalties for the responsible use of the atlatl. This model is referred to as
"legalization."
What does
ABNORMAL do?
ABNORMAL lobbies the Texas State Legislature
for more liberal hunting policies. We provide expert witnesses for legislative
hearings in support of hunting and fishing reform legislation and to provide
testimony to assist defendants charged with offenses involving the atlatl.
ABNORMAL also serves as an atlatl-law reform advocate nationwide.
According to
the World Atlatl Association,
atlatl accuracy contests are often held in public parks. This is a relatively safe activity. In a recent survey, 17 Texans admit
an interest in hunting with the atlatl. Of these, 2 have hunted with an
atlatl during the past year. The vast majority of atlatlists, like most other
hunters, are good citizens who work hard, raise families, pay taxes and
contribute in a positive way to their communities. They are certainly not part
of the crime problem in this country, and it is terribly unfair to continue to
treat them as criminals.
How can I help?
The most important step you can take is to
contact your elected officials at the State level, and let them know you oppose
arresting responsible atlatl practitioners. As a constituent, you hold special
influence over the politicians who represent your district. It is critical you
let them know how you feel. Because the atlatl community remains largely
"in the closet" (cave) and is all too often invisible politically,
our core constituency currently exercises far less political power than our
numbers would otherwise suggest. The only way to overcome this handicap is for
more of us to take an active role, and routinely contact our elected
officials. A majority of the American
public opposes sending atlatlists to jail. Yet many elected officials remain
fearful that if they support this reform proposal, they will be perceived as
"soft" on crime and defeated at the next election. Additionally, we
encourage you to join ABNORMAL and help us with this fight for personal freedom.
We depend on contributions
from private individuals to fund our educational and lobbying campaign, and our
ability to move reform efforts forward is partially a question of resources.
Please join with us and let's end anti-atlatl laws, once and for all!
[Much of this
information copied directly from NORML, available On-Line, http://www.norml.org/
§
Contact Roger Wildman for more
information.
Nationwide information about misdirected
atlatl laws:
http://www.thudscave.com/petroglyphs/atlatlstatelaws.htm
Updated 11/25/07