Don't Drink and Shoot

BrooklynDodger finds the regional news in the Washington Post an endless thread of culture war vignettes.

Something positive may happen in the Virginia legislature. Even though this week, Virginia is furthering the cause of law and order by banning red light traffic cameras. The death penalty, minimum sentence, patriot act, boys think that technologically enforcing rules requiring a stop at a red light intrudes on personal freedom. And, somehow, the driver who rear ends another stopped at a red light is a victim.

Even though violating traffic laws is now a protected red state [hate that] activity, even a small parallel between gun regulation and car regulation would improve public health and safety. It would drive the NRA up the wall if the law required a renewable shooting license, annual weapon registration with tags, and liability insurance. But the idea that walking around in the woods half in the bag with a high powered rifle loaded for bear might be a problem to the other guys walking around has found some recognition.

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Va. Hunter Drinking Limits Eyed
By Chris L. Jenkins
RICHMOND, Feb. 15 -- The Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill to impose strict blood alcohol limits on hunters, angering gun enthusiasts who say the legislation unjustly targets their right to bear arms.

It is illegal in Virginia to "hunt with firearms" when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. But Senate Bill 1149 further clarifies the state code so that a hunter who had a blood alcohol content of .02 would be guilty of a misdemeanor. That's tougher than the state's drunken driving standard. Motorists are legally drunk when their blood alcohol content is .08.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate this month. It is scheduled to be heard by a House Committee this week.
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The bill's fate is uncertain because groups that support the rights of gun owners say that the blood alcohol standard the bill sets is much too low. They point out that if the commonwealth trusted drivers to have a low amount of alcohol in their blood, it should trust hunters as well.
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Virginia would be one of a handful of states -- including Maryland -- considering legislation that would clamp down on the mix of hunting and alcohol. A bill in New York would set the blood alcohol content level there at .08. Wisconsin is considering a provision, similar to the one proposed in Virginia, that would allow authorities to test hunters for alcohol.
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