Killing Animals From Your Computer Still Legal In Utah Written by: Doug G. Ware
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Last Update: 1/17 12:40 pm Print Story | Email Story RegTextSizeControl('ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_Common Page_CommonBody_CommonContent_CommonLeftColumn_Mai n_V___TextSize',true); An elk stands in a mountain clearing. (File photo) SALT LAKE CITY - It is still fully legal in Utah to hunt big and small game animals from your computer at home -- never having set foot into the wild. But that might change quickly.

A state lawmaker and the Humane Society of Utah both are pushing a bill for the 2008 Utah state legislative session that would create a law banning the practice of Internet hunting.

Internet hunting first appeared online a few years ago at a Texas-based website that allowed people to pay a fee to shoot wild game via their computer. Users wouldcontrol with their mousea tripod-mounted rifle that had been set up in the Texas wilderness. When an animal of interest appeared on the computer screen, the user could line up the crosshairs and click on the "fire" button. Remotely, the rifle would fire and shoot the animal -- which would then be stuffed and sent to the online hunter.

The fee for the practice typically cost approximately $1,500 but drew heavy criticisms from many people and organizations, including the National Rifle Association and Safari Club -- groups that opposed the idea because it was hardly "sporting."

Subsequently, Internet hunting was banned in Texas and the website was shut down. Since then, 34 states have adopted into law a ban on Internet hunting and although there are no online hunting sites currently operated in Utah, the bill is designed to stop the problem before it starts.

"Right now, anyone in Utah could set up an Internet hunting website. We want to follow the lead of the other [states] who have taken the steps to prevent that from happening," said Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah.

The bill, sponsored by Utah state Senate Majority LeaderMichael Waddoups (R-Salt Lake City),will be introduced at the 2008 Utah state legislature and already has the backing of the Humane Society of Utah.

The Humane Society hopes that eventually a federal law will be passed to ban the practice outright.

"Laws are a lot like medicine. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Baierschmidt said.

I just heard about this tonight I think it's crazy, has everyone heard of this before or have I just been living in a cave?