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2"33
By Bianuon valloiani
}anuaiy S, 2u14

An inteiesting uebate has cioppeu
up in viiginia, as the Bouse of
Belegates iecently voteu to allow
statewiue hunting on Sunuays.
The issue pits two tiauitional
conseivative values against each
othei-ieligion anu gun iights.
With a vote of 71 to 27, the victoiy
foi hunting unueiscoies viiginia's
tiansfoimation fiom a iuial to a
subuiban minuset.

National Rifle Association membeis anu othei hunteis weie split on the uecision. 0n
the one hanu, iemoving an existing ban on Sunuay hunting allows busy viiginians,
oi those who live faithei fiom wilulife, the chance to get in on the action. The move
coulu boost touiism anu uiaw in youngei hunteis, anu will no uoubt help cuib the
expanuing ueei population that is wieaking havoc on ciops anu causing countless
cai ciashes.0n the othei hanu, the uecision chips away at the impoitance anu
sacieuness of the Loiu's Bay. 0nuei cuiient viiginia law, Sunuay is a "iest uay foi all
species of wilu biiu anu wilu animal life"-although iaccoons, which can be hunteu
until 2:uu in the moining on Sunuays, aie the one exception. But the new bill
abolishes this notion of a iest uay-if the bill passes in the Senate, hunteis coulu now
kill ueei, beai, anu othei wilu animals pioviueu they'ie on piivate piopeity anu
pioviueu they have obtaineu wiitten peimission fiom the lanuownei. Anu
wateifowl woulu be faii game ovei piivate anu public wateis. Foi many Chiistians,
the bill is pait of a uistuibing tienu, staiting with the legalization of Sunuay beei anu
liquoi sales, which shows viiginia is moving in the same uiiection as the iest of the
countiy-the wiong one.

In the minu of many subuiban uelegates, hunting is just like any othei foim of
enteitainment, like golf oi Nascai oi football. If those aie all alloweu on Sunuay, why
shoulun't hunting be. Anu fuitheimoie, othei conseivative states in the Bible belt
have legalizeu Sunuay hunting without any negative iepeicussions, anu even unuei
the olu viiginian law, wealthy inuiviuuals coulu hunt on officially-licenseu piivate
ieseives eveiy uay of the week. Foi many, the bill woulu simply allow the common
man to enjoy the same iights as the elites.

But those on the othei siue aigue that since less than S peicent of all viiginians aie
hunteis, a minuscule minoiity woulu be ieuucing the quality of life foi otheis who
enjoy peaceful Sunuay activities like biiuwatching, hiking, cycling, anu hoiseback
iiuing.

What uo you think. Which tiauitional value shoulu viiginia piioiitize in this case.
Bunting oi ieligion.


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