Pennsylvania House Votes to Reverse 19th Century Hunting Law

Newsweek

21 hours ago

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Lawmakers have begun to reverse a centuries-old hunting law that banned the practice on Sundays in Pennsylvania.
The state legislature voted to overturn the blue law today after centuries of Sunday hunting restrictions, which were originally introduced to preserve the day as a religious occasion.
Why It Matters
"Blue laws" are pieces of legislation that ban certain activities at certain times for religious reasons. In Pennsylvania's case, the law banned hunting, along with several other activities, on Sundays to maintain the day's status as a day of rest and religious observance.
What To Know
The hunting ban was reversed today after a 131-72 vote on House Bill 1431, which saw 69 Republicans and three Democrats vote in favor of keeping the ban.
The bill's sponsor, Democratic Representative Mandy Steele, stated that the law was outdated and no longer fit for modern-day life in Pennsylvania.
"This is an archaic 'blue law,' not based in the reality of today. It's a law that most states have eliminated long ago," Steele said on the floor while debating the bill.
"Not being able to hunt on Sundays creates major hurdles for busy families," she said.
A man peers through binoculars while hunting for deer in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on May 2016.
A man peers through binoculars while hunting for deer in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on May 2016.
Getty Images
Steele's bill would allow Pennsylvania's Game Commission to legalize hunting on Sundays of its choosing, while outlining new regulations related to hunting, such as trespassing penalties.
The ban, introduced in the 19th century, had previously allowed the hunting of pests like coyotes, foxes and crows. There was also a cut-out for three specific Sundays each calendar year on which hunting traditional game, such as deer, was allowed.
What People Are Saying
Brook Lender, executive director of the Keystone Trails Association, opposed the bill, arguing that repealing the ban makes hiking trails less safe, because walkers can no longer travel "without having to worry about any safety risks from hunting activity or the startling noise that can accompany it."
"I just think we should be allowed to enjoy Penn's woods without risk of being hit by a bullet or hearing gunfire."
Steve Smith, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, in a statement: "Hunting takes time, and a lack of time is one of the biggest reasons cited by hunters who stop hunting.
"Repealing the Sunday hunting ban and allowing the Game Commission to fully regulate Sunday hunting is an opportunity to provide hunters more time, which will help keep them engaged and carrying out their vital role in managing key wildlife populations. This legislation is beneficial to hunting's future and the future of wildlife management in the Commonwealth."
What Happens Next
The bill will need to be approved by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to pass into law.