http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/taah-art-20050215.htmlVa. 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.
"Obviously everyone wants those who hunt to be safe at all times . . . that's really the only purpose of this bill," said Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle (R-Virginia Beach), the bill's sponsor and an avid hunter.
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