Petition to Ban Hunting and Fishing Being Pushed in Oregon

A petition to ban hunting and fishing is being put together in Oregon in hopes it can be placed on the ballot this November.

The petition calls for passage of the People for the Elimination of Cruelty to Animals (Peace) Act, Coyne reported.

The act “would replace existing Oregon animal cruelty laws, which currently protect pets such as dogs and cats, and would expand coverage to wild animals, livestock, and animals used in research.”

David Michelson, the petition’s lead proponent, said:

We really want to make Oregon the first state to vote on something like this. We know it’s unlikely that 50% of Oregonians are ready to move away from killing animals right now. But we want to get that conversation out there. So that we can hopefully move forward in that direction.

KPTV quoted Amy Patrick of the Oregon Hunter Association: “This is something that has been going on for the last five years… This is an initiative that is basically trying to outlaw the ability to kill or injure an animal for any reason other than self-defense. They want to make Oregon a sanctuary state.”

He added, “It would criminalize hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife management practices, education and teaching with animals, even your ability to trap insects and worms.”