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Wed 4 May, 2005 09:14 pm
First of all, I'm totally against this sort of thing, but how the heck does this work? Hunting at your computer over the internet? Huh? Enlighten us thick ones...
California wildlife regulators to ban hunting over Internet
at 23:26 on May 3, 2005, EST.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California wildlife regulators took the first step Tuesday to bar hunters from using the Internet to shoot animals, responding to a Texas website that planned to let users fire at real game with the click of a mouse.
The Fish and Game Commission ordered wildlife officials to prepare emergency regulations to ban the practice. A period of public comment will follow.
"We don't think Californians should be able to hunt sitting at their computers at home," said Steve Martarano, a spokesman for the state Department of Fish and Game.
A bill passed by the state Senate two weeks ago would prohibit use of computer-assisted hunting sites and ban the import or export of any animal killed using computer-assisted hunting. The measure now moves to the state Assembly.
At least 14 other states and Congress are considering similar bills.
Groups including the California Sportsmen's Association, Safari Club International and the Outdoor Sportsman's Coalition of California support the ban, saying hunting over the Internet is unethical and unsporting.
Supporters have suggested the remote hunting could be beneficial for hunters with disabilities and questioned why Californians should be barred from patronizing a legitimate Texas business.
Works like this:
1) A webcam transmits the images of the prey to the "hunter's" computer.
2) The "hunter's" mouse movements control the weapon and a key or button controls the trigger.
It takes everything out of hunting except for the kill, which seems to be the sole draw for those who use it besides, perhaps, the novelty.
Somebody posted the details a long time ago. I don't recall the details, but it was sort of disgusting.
Thanks, Craven. So, does this company that's offering this, have people running around in the bush with mobile cams? This sounds really daft.
No, they are usually stationary and mounted on tripods. I belive the first one was setup on someone's back porch allowing people to "hunt" fenced in animals.
The setup is very much like the saying "shooting fish in a barrell".
Ah, I see now! Well, if these animals are fenced in, it's not really "hunting"at all, is it? This is even stupider than I had originally imagined. Thanks for enlightening...
Even if they are not fenced in, it's not really "hunting" at all, is it. Somebody must have taken that Deer Hunter video game to the reality level
Fenced in in a large area, though on the guy's ranch.
If you want more information:
Here is a news report about it'
Here is the site that started it all
Gosh, so could a similar system be set up for "hits" on humans? I mean I know it would be hard to get them into a corral but...