House Judiciary Committee advances repeal of obsolete negligent-deer-hunting statute

The House Judiciary Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 15, which would repeal a law that penalized the negligent discharge of firearms while hunting deer.

Representative Howard Beatty, District 95, presented the bill, saying the statute—originally enacted in 1947 and amended in 1965—pre-dates modern hunter-education programs and current game-law enforcement. "It is an act to amend the law concerning negligent discharge of firearms while hunting deer and to repeal 15 43 2 0 5," Beatty said. He told the committee that a review of the statute’s history showed it has not been used to impose fines in recent decades and described it as "another law that's on our books that's not utilized. It's just taking up space."

Committee members asked whether comparable statutes exist for other types of hunting. Representative Hunter asked whether similar laws covered ducks or squirrels; Beatty answered that, "as far as we could tell, this is the only law that specifies a specific type of hunting, and it was deer hunting," and that other general laws addressing negligent firearm use remain in force.

No members of the public signed up to speak for or against the bill. Representative Beatty closed and moved the committee to "do pass." The committee took a voice vote and the motion carried. The record shows no roll-call tally; committee members voiced assent.

The bill specifically cites repeal of statute "15 43 2 0 5" and, according to Beatty, is being carried in coordination with Senator Boyd. The committee did not adopt amendments and provided no additional implementation instructions. The question-and-answer portion focused on whether the repeal would remove enforcement options (committee members were told it would not), and on the statute’s historical context.

The bill will move forward from committee for further consideration by the House.