Feb. 11–SALEM — People who like to hunt, but are held back by disabilities, got little support at a legislative hearing Tuesday on a bill that would allow sight-impaired hunters to shoot their own game.
House Bill 4075, which would allow legally blind hunters to use rifles with laser sights, faced a rough introduction and appeared headed for the Legislature’s round file.
“I have to be candid, this bill bothers me,” said Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, the chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. “I’m just very concerned about some of the precedents it may establish. I’m concerned about the overuse of high-tech instruments.”
As chair, Witt holds lots of sway on whether bills die or move forward in his committee.
Rep. Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton, introduced the bill at the request of a constituent and U.S. Army veteran who lost his eyesight while on active duty in Iraq. The vet, James Rabourne, grew up hunting in eastern Oregon, and wants to pursue the sport. He was featured in a story in Tuesday’s Oregonian.
Under current law, Rabourne could get a special permit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife that would allow him to hunt with an aide, but the aide would have to pull the trigger and shoot the game. Rabourne wants to be able to use a laser sight on his hunting rifle, so the aide could verbally guide him to the target, but Rabourne would pull the trigger.
Hunters are forbidden from using laser-guided scopes in the wild in Oregon.
Al Elkins, a lobbyist for the Oregon Hunters Association, said his group supports efforts to make it easier for people with disabilities to go hunting. But he said his group opposes the bill because of its implications for high-tech hunting.
“We have found in the past that no matter how tightly you write a definition, it becomes more relaxed” over time, Elkins said. “This is the camel’s nose under the tent.”
Others who spokes were less empathetic and show less understanding about the bill and current law governing hunting by people with disabilities. Some lawmakers on the panel wanted to know whether they would qualify to get a laser sight because they wore glasses. Several asked how a legally blind person could see the laser, not understanding that an companion would be required to help guide the laser to the target.
Others didn’t want to tamper with the hunting “tradition” in Oregon.
“That is just basically wrong and unethical,” said Rich Thompson, president of Traditional Archers of Oregon, regarding the practice of a companion shooting game for a hunter with a disability. “I can’t believe any true sportsman would say, “Here, shoot my animal for me.'”
The consensus by the end of the hearing appeared to be that the bill raised too many questions, and should be brought back for more study next year.
“I’m not aware of any of the committee members wanting to move forward at this time,” Witt said after the hearing.
— Harry Esteve