December 6, 2007
The Humane Society of the United States Calls on Senate to Pass
Whitehouse Bill and Prevent Pay-Per-View Slaughter
WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today
welcomed the introduction of federal legislation designed to crack
down on Internet hunting. The Computer-Assisted Remote Hunting Act,
introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), would prevent the
operation of web sites that allow people to shoot live animals
remotely.
The HSUS has advocated for state and federal legislation to combat
Internet hunting since the launch of Live-Shot.com, a web site based
in Texas that allowed users to pay a fee and shoot captive exotic
animals on a fenced game ranch – simply by clicking a button on their
keyboard or computer mouse. While 34 states have now banned the
practice, the interstate nature of the Internet calls for a federal
policy to prevent such web sites from emerging in the future.
"Internet hunting is an appalling form of trophy hunting, one that is
opposed by sportsmen and animal welfare advocates alike," said
Michael Markarian, HSUS executive vice president. "Traditional
hunters know there's no sport in shooting an animal remotely while
lying in bed and wearing camouflage pajamas. We urge lawmakers to
quickly pass this bill into law and stop this egregious practice
which amounts to nothing more than pay-per-view slaughter."
"There's no place in sportsmanship for a practice that kills with the
click of a mouse," said Sen. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate
committees on the Environment and Public Works and the
Judiciary. "I'm proud that Rhode Island is among the states that
have banned Internet hunting. It should never take place – and this
bill will ensure it never does."
Sen. Whitehouse's legislation is co-sponsored by Judiciary Committee
Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.). A
House version of the bill, H.R. 2711, was introduced in June by Reps.
Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Tom Davis (R-Va.), and is co-sponsored by
some of the leading sportsmen's advocates in Congress, including
Reps. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Mike Thompson
(D-Ca.), and Don Young (R-Alaska).
A map of states that have banned Internet hunting is available at:
hsus.org/web-files/PDF/internethunting_map.pdf
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/new_senate_b
ill_internet_hunting_120607.html
For the cats,
Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457
http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org
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