Gov. Greg Gianforte (R., Mont.) is sounding the alarm about a ballot measure in Oregon that he says could criminalize licensed hunting and fishing, calling the proposal “absolutely crazy.” Gianforte, the Chair of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), weighing in on Oregon Initiative Petition 28 (IP28), elevates the measure, potentially causing a headache for Portland Democrats.
“Did you hear what they’re trying to do in Oregon?” Gianforte said in a new video obtained by the Washington Reporter. “They are literally trying to outlaw hunting and fishing – that’s absolutely crazy. Here in Montana, hunting and fishing is integral to our way of life. To all those Oregonians who want to outlaw hunting and fishing, please stay out of Montana.”
IP28 would, if passed, eliminate fishing and hunting licenses and criminalize hunters, fishers, anglers, trappers, farmers, and ranchers, because it would remove exemptions from these activities from animal cruelty laws.
The measure is being pushed heavily by animal rights activists, but faces local opposition from groups like the Oregon Hunters Association, which warns that it would “remove legal exemptions protecting hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming from Oregon’s animal abuse statutes — turning nearly one million Oregonians into criminals.” The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that hunting and fishing generate almost $2 billion in economic revenue for they state.
While IP28 is not yet officially on the ballot, it submitted over 10,000 more signatures than it is required to.
For Gianforte, opposition to IP28 is personal. He is an avid outdoorsman himself, and as governor he has expanded public access to more than 245,000 acres of land for recreation.
Gianforte also started the Youth Hunting Story Contest, which encourages young Montanans to share stories about harvesting any legal game animal.
