PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A petition to ban hunting in Oregon is picking up steam.

Animal rights advocates are fighting to change the law in Oregon, including banning most hunting, fishing and animal research.

One of the people leading the charge of getting this petition out there says they have been trying to get this on the ballot for years, getting more and more signatures each time, though he knows it won’t likely pass.

Supporters call the proposal the PEACE Act, short for People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions.

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“We really want to make Oregon the first state to vote on something like this,” said David Michelson, the PEACE Act’s chief petitioner. “We are aware that it’s unlikely 50% of Oregonians are ready right now to move away from killing animals. But we want to get that conversation out there. So that we can hopefully move in that direction.”

If passed, it would change the current Oregon animal cruelty laws, which currently protect pets such as dogs and cats, and would expand coverage to wild animals, livestock and animals used in research. Exemptions would be made for veterinarians and for self-defense.

“Our goal is to introduce people — often, many people, for the first time — will hear about what alternatives to killing animals even exist right now,” Michelson said.

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While he acknowledged the need for wildlife management in situations such as controlling the proliferation of invasive species or pests, Michelson said there are non-lethal ways of achieving this.

“It specifically requires non-lethal forms of wildlife management. That could be the introduction of sterile males into a population,” he said.

Opponents say hunting is a crucial part of many Oregonians’ lives and for the economy.

“There are a handful of predators that do make a huge impact on our herbivore species, like deer, throughout the state,” said Oregon Hunters Association Hoodview Chapter President Levi Barrera. “If you take away hunting, there will be an out-of-control effect on the population.”

Barrera warns that outlawing hunting could create a huge economic impact on Oregon, especially for those who rely on it to put meat on the table, while grocery prices are at an all-time high.

“Even bigger towns that rely on the agricultural side of things, not just the economy and fishing side of things,” he said. “It has great impacts through communities that rely on hunting and fishing and that really sustains their communities and their families throughout the year. The industries that rely on hunting and fishing, you know, coastal towns, rely heavily on the fishing and salmon fishing.”

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Michelson argues a transition fund included in the PEACE Act would help with food assistance for people who currently rely on animals that are hunted for meat. The fund could also be used for animal care and job retraining programs.

The chief petitioner says they have more than 100,000 signatures so far. By law, they need 117,173 verified signatures by July 2 to qualify for the ballot in November.

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