Robeson County Hunters Oppose Lifting 137 Year Ban
January 2, 2007
Sunday Hunting Ban is still being batted around despite the torpedo the NC Wildlife Commission I believe inadvertently put through the bow. Opposition to Sunday Hunting continues to be focused on the religious aspects which I think is the wrong approach. Those who support over turning the ban have some very valid points when it comes to this argument.
LUMBERTON – Robeson County hunters are gun-shy about a proposal to lift the 137-year-old ban on Sunday hunting in the state.
“I’m opposed to it,” said William Stone, former director of the county Inspections Department. “I probably hunt as much as anyone, but I don’t think it’s right … it would disrupt church services, and Sunday is a time to rest.”
Stone is not alone in thinking that Sunday is a time for reflection and rest, not rifles.
Of course non hunting church goers are also opposed to lifting the ban;
“I’m not a hunter, so I would be prejudice to start with, but I don’t think they ought to hunt on Sunday,” said Bud Parrish, director of missions for the Robeson Baptist Association. “(Hunters) should have a day to rest.”
State Senator Dave Weinstein of Lumberton feels that the legislators will take up the Sunday Hunting Study shortly after returning to Raleigh and they will kill it quickly. Despite the WRC revoking their support and sending the study to the lawmakers without it there still appears to be some key support on the committee to overturn the ban.
Wildlife Commission Vice Chairman Steve Windham said he personally supports Sunday hunting – he called fishing “hunting with a hook”
No matter where you come down on this issue you have to admit the “day of rest” is a pretty lame argument. One only has to go the nearest steak house on Sunday after church lets out to see how hypocritical that argument really is.
Moose Droppings is a place that chronicles my journey, Ill explore new places and ideas Ill learn new things and Ill teach the things Ive learned to others. Join me on the adventure and hopefully it will help you in your outdoor endeavors.
The only worse argument to the day of rest I’ve heard is that the “animals need a day of rest.” I used to play on a church league softball team. Guess which day we played on?
The two best arguments I’ve seen against Sunday hunting are: 1) It will drive up the cost of land because it will make it profitable for outfitters to offer a weekend package, and 2) Joint land use projects between hikers/bird watchers/preservationists and hunters might diminish if the first group feels they’ll never get into the woods during hunting season.
These seem pretty easy to fix. Just make out-of-state licenses invalid on Sundays. Myself, I’m doubtful that New Yorkers will start flocking to NC when they’ve got opportunities in SC and GA.
As for joint land use, that’s a private matter between the parties. If a project between the Sierra Club and Ducks Unlimited wants to not allow Sunday hunting, then allow for a mechanism to register the land as not available on Sunday.
If someone wants to hunt on Sunday on their own land, then I’m not sure what business it is of anyone else. The only people I personally know that really treat the Sabbath as holy are orthodox jews. Everybody else is watching basketball, mowing the yard, and doing every other hobby they chose to do on a Sunday.
I read the report provided to the state by the independent company and was very upset at people’s outlook on Sunday hunting. You are exactly right in saying that the religious standpoint is way off. I would assume that if they are real christians then they would use everyday of the week as a day of reflection. I am a young father of 2 boys and I work all week. Adding Sunday hunting to my schedule would actually give me more time to spend with my family. Basically they need to come up with a better platform than “let the animals rest”.
nice blog Moose,
Jeff