Bill banning Internet hunting goes to the CA Governor's desk

Westlake Village (CA) - Imagine remotely controlling a gun via the Internet and shooting targets, or even animals. While this geeky pursuit may appeal to cubicle-bound hunters, the California State Legislature doesn’t like it. The State Senate recently approved a bill that would ban "Internet Hunting", which makes killing an animal over the Internet a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1000.

One company started offering commercial Internet Hunting services. Live Shot (www.live-shot.com) in Texas lets Internet users remotely control a hunting rifle, which can be used for target practice against paper targets, or used for hunting animals. The site offers to its customers a combined a .22 caliber rifle to a pan-tilt-zoom webcam and a shock-stabilized firing platform.

Customers paying $5.95 for ten shots can aim and fire the rifle through a web interface. The ten shots must be completed in twenty minutes and the website states that a live person will be at the shooting station to provide assistance. Ammunition can jam the rifle, but the remote controller would have no way of fixing problem. In addition, the assistant can override the Internet user, if other dangerous situations develop.

The State Bill 1028 was sponsored by Senator Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach) and passed the Senate by a 27 to 5 vote. A few weeks before, the State Assembly passed the bill by a unanimous 72 to 0 vote. Now, SB 1028 heads to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk where he can approve or veto the bill.

While eight other states have approved similar bills, it is unclear at this time whether any animals have actually been shot from the Internet.