Broadman, GOP colleague speak out against initiative that would criminalize fishing, hunting and trapping
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Senate co-chairs of the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) and Senator Anthony Broadman (D-Bend), spoke out Thursday in opposition to Initiative Petition 28, which they said "would make lawful hunting, fishing, and trapping illegal and turn nearly one million Oregonians into criminals."
IP28, the People for Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, is an initiative petition whose proponents are gathering signatures and seeking to qualify for the November ballot.
The senators said in a news release that the measure would remove the established exemptions from Oregon’s animal abuse statutes that protect legal actions such as lawful hunting, fishing, and trapping; rodeos; killing animals for food; wildlife management practices; scientific or agricultural research or teaching with animals; even trapping pests and vermin.
In addition, they said, the language in IP28 would remove the exemption for acts of "good animal husbandry" such as dehorning, docking tails, castration or neutering of livestock, and would also classify standard breeding practices, such as artificial insemination, as sexual assault.
By eliminating lawful hunting, fishing, and trapping, IP28 "would eliminate the main funding source for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and have detrimental effects on wildlife management," Smith and Broadman said.
“Historically, sportsmen contribute 45-55% of ODFW’s budget, comprising the majority of dollars used for wildlife management and conservation,” Smith said. “The General Fund, or Oregon’s taxpayer dollars, makes up only 10% of ODFW’s budget, nowhere close to the amount needed to operate the agency and benefit Oregon’s wildlife.”
In addition to the direct economic impact to ODFW, the two senators said that "shutting down farming, ranching, dairy farming, and commercial fishing would create incredible negative impacts to Oregon’s statewide economy, causing increased tax pressure and reduced state services for all Oregonians."
“Buying locally raised foods at the local farmers market would be outlawed, while restaurant and grocery prices would increase substantially due to the need to ship meat and dairy products in from out of state,” Broadman said. “Hunting and fishing for food is a part of Oregon’s heritage, and for many of us, part of who we are.”
Adding additional insult to these effects, the Senators said IP28 also does not exempt Oregon’s Tribes from the ban on hunting and fishing, even for sustenance or ceremonial uses.
The proponents have collected over 100,000 of the 117,173 signatures needed by July 2 to qualify for the ballot. The Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus said it "encourages all Oregonians to register to vote and, should IP28 qualify for the ballot, defeat the measure by historical margins."
One group supporting the proposed measure, In Defense of Animals, called it "a bold, far-reaching ballot initiative" but added, "The campaign behind Yes On IP28 is not naive. They do not expect the initiative to pass in 2026. The goal is to build the infrastructure necessary to consistently return to the ballot, shift public consciousness, and continue forcing the conversation until it succeeds."
Here's the text of the initial proposed initiative, as submitted in October 2023 to the Oregon Elections Division:
