An Oregon ballot measure that would have classified hunting, fishing, ranching and other related activities as animal abuse has failed to gather enough valid signatures to be considered by voters in November. Initiative Petition 28, known by supporters as the "PEACE Act," needed to secure 117,173 valid signatures, but fell approximately 13,000 short after two rounds of verification by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.
Supporters submitted over 142,000 signatures, but only 104,262 were deemed valid. IP28 sought to remove existing exemptions in Oregon's animal-cruelty statutes that protect lawful hunting, fishing, trapping, ranching, farming, pest control and accepted animal-husbandry practices. Under the proposed measure, killing or injuring an animal would have been considered abuse unless it was necessary to prevent immediate harm to a person or another animal.
This outcome spares Oregon hunters, anglers, farmers and ranchers from potential criminal consequences for their activities. The proposal faced widespread bipartisan opposition, with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, members of the Oregon House, and Republican lawmakers all speaking out against it. Organizations including the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and Oregon Hunters Association also opposed the initiative.
Gov. Kotek expressed relief, stating the measure would not have benefited Oregonians. Conservation advocates argue that such bans overlook the crucial role hunters and anglers play in wildlife management and conservation funding. Funds generated through hunting and fishing license sales and federal excise taxes on related equipment contribute to habitat acquisition, wildlife research, species restoration and public recreation programs.
Proponents of IP28 aimed to reframe the debate around animal welfare, but opponents contend that regulating wildlife management requires a science-based approach rather than one driven by emotion. The failure of IP28 is seen as a victory for those who support regulated hunting and fishing practices, but the campaign's proponents have indicated a long-term strategy to pursue similar initiatives in future election cycles and potentially in other states.
Travis Thompson, a conservation advocate involved in establishing the right to hunt and fish in Florida, noted that such measures are part of a broader national effort. Florida became the 24th state to adopt a constitutional protection recognizing the right to hunt and fish. Thompson is working with advocates in other states, including Ohio, Colorado, Delaware, and New Hampshire, to establish similar protections. These amendments aim to create a higher legal threshold for activists seeking to eliminate hunting and fishing, while allowing states to continue managing wildlife through science-based seasons and bag limits.
The near qualification of IP28 highlights the ongoing efforts by animal rights activists to restrict traditional outdoor activities and underscores the importance of continued advocacy for hunting and fishing rights. The campaign's chief petitioner has stated their intent to continue pursuing similar measures over multiple election cycles.
