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Omaha Steve

(99,618 posts)
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 10:55 AM Oct 2015

Wisconsin’s ‘Right to Hunt’ Law Could Mean Jail for Animal Activists


X post in Animal Rights. Had accidentally posted in GD-P. Oops. My fever is down today BTW.

OS


Similar to ag-gag laws, the bill would prohibit people from photographing the hunting of bears and wolves on public land.



Similar to ag-gag laws, the bill would prohibit people from photographing the hunting of bears and wolves on public land.
(Photo: Jupiter Images/Getty Images)

http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/10/22/wisconsin-s-proposed-right-hunt-law-could-mean-jail-animal-activists


OCT 22, 2015 John R. Platt covers the environment, technology, philanthropy, and more for Scientific American, Conservation, Lion, and other publications.

Could carrying a camera in a state park cost you thousands of dollars in fines and nine months in jail?

Yes, if Wisconsin’s new “Right to Hunt” bill, which was introduced last week by Republican state Rep. Adam Jarchow, becomes law.

The bill comes in response to activities by a group called Wolf Patrol, which in recent months has attempted to document and monitor the trapping and hunting of wolves, bears, and other wildlife in Wisconsin. The group this year has focused on the use of bait to attract bears. Although baiting is legal in Wisconsin, Wolf Patrol says it attracts gray wolves. The wolves in turn have killed at least 15 hunting dogs this season.

Jarchow told Wisconsin Public Radio that he submitted his bill in response to complaints from hunters who felt Wolf Patrol was harassing them.

FULL story at link.

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NutmegYankee

(16,199 posts)
1. A lot of states have laws to prevent harrassment of hunters. I know Connecticut does.
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 11:13 AM
Oct 2015

The statute is C. G. S. A. § 53a-183a. The state Supreme Court upheld the law as not an infringement of the First Amendment by a 5-0 vote.
http://www.ctsportsmen.com/issues/state_supreme_court_upholds_hunt.htm


Connecticut Dept of Energy and Environmental Protection

DEALING WITH HARASSMENT

All hunters regardless of where they hunt should be prepared for the possibility of being harassed by anti-hunters. Anti-hunting groups often use harassment tactics to generate publicity, so newspaper and television reporters may be present. Your behavior if you are harassed is extremely important. Maintain your composure and do not retaliate. If you are interviewed by the media, project a positive image. Remember, Connecticut has a hunter harassment law that protects the rights of sportsmen. If you decide to press charges on your antagonists make sure you have a strong case by:

making it evident that they are following you by going in several directions,
asking your antagonists why they are harassing you,
being able to identify and describe the individuals,
taking the license numbers of their autos if possible and by,
not responding to violence or threatening a protester with bodily harm.

kcr

(15,315 posts)
3. You can take pictures on public land.
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 11:43 AM
Oct 2015

No expectation of privacy in public. I seriously doubt the law in CT prevents anyone from merely taking pictures.

NutmegYankee

(16,199 posts)
5. The law doesn't ban the taking of pictures alone.
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 12:27 PM
Oct 2015

It makes two or more acts of photography with intent to harass a crime.

29.083 (2) (a) 7. Engaging in a series of 2 or more acts carried out over time,
19however short or long, that show a continuity of purpose and that are intended to
20impede or obstruct a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping,
1or an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping
, including any of
2the following:
3 a. Maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person.
4 b. Approaching or confronting the person.
5 c. Photographing, videotaping, audiotaping, or through other electronic means,
6monitoring or recording the activities of the person. This subd. 7. c. applies
7regardless of where the act occurs.

You have a right to photograph in public, but not a right to harass someone with it. An abusive ex-domestic partner who follows his former girlfriend/wife around and photographs her will clearly get arrested. This different from police officers who are carrying out public duties. Many states have similar laws to stop anti-abortion nuts from stalking and harassing women and clinic workers.

kcr

(15,315 posts)
12. If the law is overly broad and punishes them for taking pictures, claiming that is harassment
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 01:47 PM
Oct 2015

Then that won't fly. Sorry. And I have a hard time believing CT law claims pictures alone as harassment. I live in CT.

kimbutgar

(21,137 posts)
2. Wisconsin will be the right wing utopia sooner than we thought
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 11:30 AM
Oct 2015

But for the sane people it will be dystopia.

 

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)
8. Take a look at the planned changes to Workers Comp.
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 01:00 PM
Oct 2015

It will basically gut the system. Injured workers will get paid pretty much nothing for their injuries and the system will be set up to keep attorneys out of the picture to help the injured workers.

And plenty of other things coming in this new session of the legislature. Fucking assholes.

Brickbat

(19,339 posts)
6. They're amending their anti-harassment law to include photography/recording with the intent to
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 12:48 PM
Oct 2015

harass. Walking into a state park with your camera is not going to get you arrested, good lord.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
7. What is the relevant and objective source supporting your allegation?
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 12:54 PM
Oct 2015

The story is then factually inaccurate when it states without additional qualifications, "the bill would prohibit people from photographing the hunting of bears and wolves on public land."?

What then is the relevant and objective source denying the written statement as is?

Brickbat

(19,339 posts)
9. The bill itself.
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 01:01 PM
Oct 2015
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/related/proposals/sb338

This bill makes changes to the laws prohibiting certain activities that interfere
with hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Current law prohibits a person from engaging in certain intentional conduct
that interferes with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping. The conduct prohibited
under current law (prohibited conduct) includes harassing a wild animal, impeding
or obstructing a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, or
impeding a person who is engaged in an activity associated with lawful hunting,
fishing, or trapping. Current law generally defines an activity associated with lawful
hunting, fishing, or trapping, as travel, camping, or other acts that are preparatory
to lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping. This bill expands this definition so that it also
includes scouting, target shooting, dog training, and animal baiting or feeding.
The bill also expands the prohibitions in current law so that a person may not
interfere or attempt to interfere with an activity associated with lawful hunting,
fishing, or trapping by engaging in prohibited conduct. The bill also expands the
types of conduct prohibited to include disturbing a lawfully placed hunting stand,
disturbing lawfully placed bait or other feed, using a drone under certain
circumstances, and engaging in a series of acts (serial conduct) that are intended to
impede or obstruct a person engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping or an
activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping. The types of serial
conduct prohibited include maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person,
approaching or confronting the person, or photographing the person.


(snip)

29.083 (2) (a) 7. Engaging in a series of 2 or more acts carried out over time,
19however short or long, that show a continuity of purpose and that are intended to
20impede or obstruct a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping,
1or an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, including any of
2the following:
3 a. Maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person.
4 b. Approaching or confronting the person.
5 c. Photographing, videotaping, audiotaping, or through other electronic means,
6monitoring or recording the activities of the person. This subd. 7. c. applies
7regardless of where the act occurs.
8 d. Causing a person to engage in any of the acts described in subd. 7. a. to c.


etherealtruth

(22,165 posts)
10. Hmmmmm .... If only women seeking abortions were offered the same protections
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 01:24 PM
Oct 2015
The types of serial conduct prohibited include maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person,
approaching or confronting the person, or photographing the person.



Not trying to co-opt the thread ... just truly puzzled how these specific protections can be enacted to protect people involved in one legal act and not another
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