A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ban pigeon shoots, as recommended by the general statutes commission.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 47 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14‑361.2.  Pigeon shoots.
A person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if the person instigates, promotes, conducts, is employed at, allows property under the person's ownership or control to be used for, participates as a shooter at, or profits from, an event involving the release of any pigeon for the purpose of shooting the pigeon. In deciding whether to impose a fine, the court shall take into account any financial benefit received or anticipated by the person. Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 15A‑1340.23, the court shall impose a fine for a second or subsequent conviction of at least treble any fine imposed for the person's most recent conviction under this section."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 19A‑1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 19A‑1. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Article:
(1)	The term "animals" includes every living vertebrate in the classes Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia except human beings.
(2)	The terms "cruelty" and "cruel treatment" include every act, omission, or neglect whereby unjustifiable physical pain, suffering, or death is caused or permitted. These terms also include any act that violates G.S. 14‑361.2, notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 19A‑1.1.
(3)	The term "person" has the same meaning as in G.S. 12‑3."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2004, except that no person shall be prosecuted under the provisions of G.S. 14‑361.2, as enacted in this act, for any act that occurred prior to December 1, 2004.