Oregon Measure Would Ban Hunting, Fishing, Livestock Farming

A measure in Oregon, IP 28, would ban hunting, fishing, and livestock farming in Oregon. The measure has received 126,115 signatures as of May 29th according to the “Yes on IP 28” website. Initiative petitions in Oregon require 117,000 signatures to get on the ballot. All measures are subject to verification by the Secretary of State’s office.

The measure, known as the PEACE Act, would remove legal exemptions from the state’s animal cruelty laws, meaning that animals cannot be hunted, fished, or kept as livestock for slaughter.

Under Oregon law, animal abuse is already defined as the intentional, knowing, and reckless injury of an animal. It would also expand existing protections against animal sexual assault by classifying the impregnation of animals as sexual assault even when done for agricultural purposes.

“We believe it is possible to meet all of our needs as human beings while simultaneously meeting the needs of the animals we inhabit this state with. Using the killing of animals as a strategy to meet our needs is a choice, and our campaign wants to propose making a different one. Whether that looks like greater investment in plant agriculture, utilizing non-lethal wildlife management practices, or implementing non-animal methods for research, many alternative strategies already exist to choose from,” the website says.

There are exceptions for self-defense if an animal is attacking humans, pets, or other animals.

The Oregon Hunters Association (OHA), which is campaigning against the measure, says that all licensed hunting, sport fishing, commercial fishing, trapping, and raising animals for food, dairy, and eggs would be considered animal abuse.

The OHA says that animal use in education, research, and wildlife management programs would be banned. This would include the reintroduction of beavers and other animals, which are used to mitigate the effects of drought and flooding and attracted diverse wildlife.

Tribal rights would not be exempted from the law. Hunting and fishing rights by Native American tribes are protected by treaties and by law.

The OHA says that one million Oregonians who hunt, fish, trap, or work in agriculture would be at risk of criminal prosecution under IP 28. There are 330,000 licensed hunters, 500,000+ licensed anglers, 37,000 farms and ranches employing over 80,000 workers, and nine federally recognized tribes with hunting and fishing rights protected by treaty.

Hunting and fishing generates $1.9 billion annually in Oregon communities. Revenues from these programs funds the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s habitat restoration, species recovery, and public lands access. The OHA says that without these revenues, these programs would be defunded.

Other groups opposing the measure include the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Ducks Unlimited Oregon, Safari Club International, Coastal Conservation Association, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.