Believes hot air balloon hog hunting will cause “future catastrophes” without increased oversight
The Texas Tribune reports state Rep. John Cyrier wrote a letter May 27 to Gov. Greg Abbott urging him to veto the hot air balloon hog hunting bill. Cyrier, of Lockhart, wrote that it could lead to “future catastrophes” because of lax regulation of commercial ballooning. “The serious problems that currently exist with hot air balloon flights were not adequately addressed during this bill’s consideration,” he wrote. Cyrier, a licensed airplane pilot, said he has hunted hogs from helicopters on more than 10 occasions, but questions whether hunting would even be possible from a balloon. He said the variables at play with a balloon — including lack of control of which direction it goes — give him doubts. Abbott signed the bill into law in June. It takes effect Sept. 1.
