Internet hunting ban sought by lawmakers
Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
LINCOLN (AP) -- Don't plan on killing a deer with your mouse anytime soon.
The state Legislature passed a bill Tuesday that would ban hunting via the Internet. It would mainly be a preventive measure if signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman.
A Texas man operated an Internet site in 2005 where people could pay to sight in animals on their computer screens and trigger rifle shots with the click of a mouse.
The site was shut down after Texas lawmakers banned the practice, and it is believed there are no similar sites in operation.
But an official with The Humane Society of the United States says bans are needed because others have expressed interest in establishing Internet hunting sites.
"Sick ideas have a nasty habit of spreading," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the humane society. Federal legislation was introduced last year, but stalled. Markarian said federal legislation will be introduced again this year.
The Nebraska bill (LB504) would prohibit both the use of such sites and the establishment of them in the state. Breaking the law would result in fines and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges.
Twenty-nine other states have similar bans.
The state Legislature passed a bill Tuesday that would ban hunting via the Internet. It would mainly be a preventive measure if signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman.
A Texas man operated an Internet site in 2005 where people could pay to sight in animals on their computer screens and trigger rifle shots with the click of a mouse.
The site was shut down after Texas lawmakers banned the practice, and it is believed there are no similar sites in operation.
But an official with The Humane Society of the United States says bans are needed because others have expressed interest in establishing Internet hunting sites.
"Sick ideas have a nasty habit of spreading," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the humane society. Federal legislation was introduced last year, but stalled. Markarian said federal legislation will be introduced again this year.
The Nebraska bill (LB504) would prohibit both the use of such sites and the establishment of them in the state. Breaking the law would result in fines and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges.
Twenty-nine other states have similar bans.
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