A petition to ban hunting in Oregon gains traction for the November ballot

Portland, Ore. (coins) — A petition to ban hunting in Oregon is picking up steam.

Animal rights advocates are fighting to change the law in Oregon, which bans most hunting, fishing and animal research.

One of the people leading the charge to get the petition out says they’ve been trying to get it on the ballot for years, getting more and more signatures each time, even though he knows it’s unlikely.

Supporters call the proposal Peace ActShort for People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemption.

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“We really want to make Oregon the first state to vote on something like this,” said David Michelson, the PEACE Act’s lead petitioner. “We’re aware that 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 we can hopefully move in that direction.”

If passed, it would change current Oregon animal cruelty laws, which currently protect domestic animals such as dogs and cats, and expand coverage to wild animals, livestock and animals used in research. Exemptions will be given for veterinary and self-defense.

“Our goal is to introduce people — often, many people, for the first time — to hearing that alternatives to killing animals still exist,” Michelson said.

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While he acknowledged the need for wildlife management in situations like controlling the spread of invasive species or pests, Michelson said there are non-lethal ways to achieve that.

“This specifically requires non-lethal forms of wildlife management. This could lead to the introduction of sterile males into the population,” he said.

Opponents say hunting is an important part of many Oregonians’ lives and economy.

“There are a handful of hunters that have a huge impact on our herbivore species like deer across the state,” said Levi Barrera, president of the Oregon Hunters Association Hoodview Chapter. “If you eliminate hunting, the population will have an out-of-control effect.”

Barrera warns that poaching could have a huge economic impact on Oregon, especially for those who rely on it to put meat on the table, while grocery prices are at an all-time high.

“Even the big cities rely on the agricultural side of things, not just the economy and the fishing side,” he said. “It has a huge impact on communities that rely on hunting and fishing and it really protects their communities and their families year-round. The hunting and fishing industries, you know, the coastal towns, are very dependent on fishing and salmon fishing.”

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Michelson argues that the transition funding included in the PEACE Act would provide food aid to people who currently rely on hunting animals for meat. Funds can also be used for animal care and job retraining programs.

The main petitioner said that so far more than 100,000 signatures have been obtained. By law, they need 1,17,173 verified signatures by July 2 to qualify for the November ballot.

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