Hunting; persons required to wear blaze orange clothing during deer season. (HB872)
Introduced By
Del. Joseph Johnson (D-Abingdon)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Wearing blaze orange while hunting. Requires a hunter or any person who accompanies a hunter to wear blaze orange clothing during any firearms deer season, including the muzzleloader season. The bill also increases the amount of blaze orange clothing that has to be displayed from 100 square inches to 250 square inches. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/08/2008 | Committee |
| 01/08/2008 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 081020576 |
| 01/08/2008 | Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| 01/18/2008 | Impact statement from DPB (HB872) |
| 01/23/2008 | Tabled in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
Comments
Look, we already wear blaze orange and other hunters are perfectly visible if they are following the current requirement. 100 square inches is plenty and accidents resulting from mistaken identity of someone wearing 100 square inches of blaze orange are very rare indeed. This is a solution in search of a problem and thus a fundamental misuse of legislation as a tool.
Muzzleloaders are generally hunting at much closer ranges than modern rifle hunters are. The danger of a hunter mistaking another hunter for a deer are about the same as in the archery season.
The muzzleloader requirement bothers me less than the proposed increase in total blaze orange cover. I spent rather a bit of money on new hunting clothes in the past year, which are in compliance with current requirements. Please don't make me have to look for the money for new hunting clothes because I really can't afford it.