Legislature 2008: Hunting

Whether caused by the graying nature of its population, or the blight on society known as Guitar Hero, the ranks of licensed hunters in West Virginia have dropped by 17 percent over the last decade.

The Associated Press reports on one lawmaker's proposal to tackle the situation: mandating firearm safety programs in public schools.

"Seventh- through ninth-graders could opt for instruction in topics ranging from survival skills to gun safety, but the weapons would have dummy ammunition or be disabled," AP's Tom Breen explains. "Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey, who introduced the bill this month, doesn't envision students firing real guns during class time."

Breen also reports that the issue is a financial one as well: "This month, Gov. Joe Manchin proposed spending $1.8 million on DNR's law enforcement efforts to make up for revenue lost because of the decline of hunting and fishing permits."

Breen's article, also found here, observes as well that "West Virginia, where roughly 320,000 people participated in the recent two-week gun season for bucks, may be the only state contemplating such a bill, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures."