Take a Stand on Internet Hunting Now

Call and write State Senator Debra Bowen to thank her for taking a stand against internet hunting:

http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/bowen/

Contact your state Assembly members and Senators, and the Governator, to urge them to support Sen. Bowen's efforts:

http://tinyurl.com/5h6uh


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Point, click and shoot
Live animals can now be hunted on the Web, and state lawmaker wants practice stopped
Lynda Gledhill, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Thursday, March 10, 2005

Sacramento -- On a Texas ranch, exotic sheep and antelope roam about, offering paying hunters an opportunity to bag some big game.

But when the prey wanders into view, the gun can be fired by someone half a world away with the simple click of a computer mouse.

A new Web phenomenon called computer-assisted remote hunting has so outraged one California lawmaker that she has introduced legislation to ban it.

With one Texas-based site up and running, lawmakers, animal activists and even gun owners want to put a stop to the practice before it becomes widespread.

"This is pay per view slaughter," said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. "It's almost beyond what anyone could imagine."

SB 1028 would prohibit any computer-based hunting sites from operating in the state. It would also technically ban Californians from engaging in the practice, although there is no practical way to enforce that provision.

"This is a bad idea on so many levels,'' said Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey, author of the bill. "The precedent is terrible, and it has nothing to do with the sport of hunting."

Her bill would also prohibit the importation to the state of animals that have been killed by this method.

Supporters of gun ownership rights have also signaled their concern with the practice. Kelly Hobbs, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, said the group is still reviewing the specific language in the bill, but doesn't agree with the practice of being able to hunt over the Internet.

"The NRA believes the element of a fair chase is a vital part of the American hunting heritage," she said. "Shooting an animal from three states away would not be considered a fair chase."

Gerald Upholt, lobbyist for the California Rifle and Pistol Association, agreed, saying it's more target practice than hunting.

"Hunting, you are out in the field, trying to find the animal," he said. "This is not the kind of thing sportsmen approve of at all."

But John Lockwood, creator of the Live-Shot Web site, said the people trying to ban the practice do not understand how it works.

...

A lawmaker in Lockwood's home state of Texas is also moving to ban the practice. Pacelle said bills have been introduced in 10 states to ban the practice, and foes are also working with Congress to try to have the prohibition be a federal law.


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