By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
The anti-hunting group behind a citizen initiative in Oregon aimed at prohibiting “animal cruelty,” which would, by their own words, “protect animals from slaughter, hunting, fishing, and experimentation,” has turned in 126,115 signatures on Initiative Petition 28, according to data from the Secretary of State’s office.
In order to qualify for the November ballot, the petition had to gather 117,173 valid signatures. According to The Gear Junkie, “Those signatures still have to survive verification.” Beaver State outdoorsmen and women, and sportsmen’s groups, are bracing for the worst, an expensive, high-profile campaign to defeat the initiative at the ballot box.
IP28 backers call their measure the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act.
Earlier this spring, the Sportsmen’s Alliance declared, “Urbanization has created epicenters of ignorance when it comes to wildlife management. These high population areas control the political discourse and application of policy in nearly every state, which has left the rural lifestyle and sportsmen’s heritage on the outside looking in. Disconnected from wildlife and the ramifications of bad policy, urban voters are susceptible to the emotional rhetoric and falsehoods of the animal-rights movement.”
Three months ago, the National Rifle Association warned, “IP28 is grounded in the notion of ‘animals’ inviolable rights,’ including a right to be free from hunting, slaughter and ‘other forms of exploitation.’ The initiative would redefine the crime of ‘animal abuse’ in state law and remove almost all current exemptions. ‘Animal abuse’ would mean intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing physical injury to, or the death of, any animal, where ‘animal’ means ‘any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish.’ The existing exemptions in the law for ‘good animal husbandry’ practices (‘accepted practices of veterinary medicine or animal husbandry,’ like neutering or dehorning livestock or the humane euthanasia of a farm animal unable to stand on its own) would be eliminated.”
In February, Kevin Starrett at the Oregon Firearms Federation told TGM the initiative is “flat out crazy.” But he cautioned Oregon voters against thinking IP28 can’t pass. After all, four months later, the measure has gathered more than 120,000 signatures.
At the time, Starrett reminded TGM how Oregonians figured anti-gun Measure 114 would never pass. It did, albeit barely, and it has been tied up in court ever since. Translation, don’t let IP28 pass by entertaining the same notions. Outdoorsmen and women will have to vote if this initiative gets on the Nov. 3 ballot.
