Damn shame

[acnewman55]

It's not a lynch mob. You accused me of being a liberal Obama lover because I think poaching is a serious enough crime to be a felony for subsequent arrests.

You're right, the lynch-mob comment was out of line.

I'm not accusing anyone of being a liberal or an Obama-lover.  I was only making the point that Obama wants to erode gun rights any way he can and one of his methods is to make gun rights a privilege by lengthening the list of things that will lead to the loss of your second amendment rights.

Hunters are a strong gun-rights community, but we can do a lot of damage to that cause when we don't guard our words.

Let's talk more about dragging this guy behind a truck by his ankles, and less about taking away his guns. 

[pianoman9701]

It's not a lynch mob. You accused me of being a liberal Obama lover because I think poaching is a serious enough crime to be a felony for subsequent arrests.

You're right, the lynch-mob comment was out of line.

I'm not accusing anyone of being a liberal or an Obama-lover.  I was only making the point that Obama wants to erode gun rights any way he can and one of his methods is to make gun rights a privilege by lengthening the list of things that will lead to the loss of your second amendment rights.

Hunters are a strong gun-rights community, but we can do a lot of damage to that cause when we don't guard our words.

Let's talk more about dragging this guy behind a truck by his ankles, and less about taking away his guns. 

I agree about the dragging. Thanks for posting. 

[JLS]

The poacher used his weapon in an illegal manner, therefore violating and terminating his "rights" of such possession. For the same reason a fellow convicted of murder doesn't get to own weapons, he blew his chance of being a responsible firearm bearing adult.

People that poach animals out of season are on the same page as convicted murders in my book. Lock the scum bags up an throw away the key. Or put a bear rug on them and tell them to walk the foothills in August.

There is somewhat of a significant difference in the example you referenced.  Obviously, murder is a felony crime and the conviction automatically disqualifies someone from owning a firearm again unless reinstated.  It does not have to be a crime involving a firearm.  It could be a knife, a shovel, a Louisville Slugger, or a fist.

Most poaching offenses are gross misdemeanors as I recall, and therefore don't subject you to automatic loss of Constitutional Rights.  You can lose the firearm through the civil forfeiture process just like you can lose your vehicle for using it to transport drugs.

Wildlife crimes are not in the same league as crimes against persons, it's essentially theft of a public resource.  I agree with you in that I have no tolerance for poaching, but I think to put it on the same level as murder is a little far fetched.  If you were to take that stance how would you ever justify killing the animal yourself when you've now put it on the same level as a human.

[acnewman55]

The poacher used his weapon in an illegal manner, therefore violating and terminating his "rights" of such possession. For the same reason a fellow convicted of murder doesn't get to own weapons, he blew his chance of being a responsible firearm bearing adult.

People that poach animals out of season are on the same page as convicted murders in my book. Lock the scum bags up an throw away the key. Or put a bear rug on them and tell them to walk the foothills in August.

There is somewhat of a significant difference in the example you referenced.  Obviously, murder is a felony crime and the conviction automatically disqualifies someone from owning a firearm again unless reinstated.  It does not have to be a crime involving a firearm.  It could be a knife, a shovel, a Louisville Slugger, or a fist.

Most poaching offenses are gross misdemeanors as I recall, and therefore don't subject you to automatic loss of Constitutional Rights.  You can lose the firearm through the civil forfeiture process just like you can lose your vehicle for using it to transport drugs.

Wildlife crimes are not in the same league as crimes against persons, it's essentially theft of a public resource.  I agree with you in that I have no tolerance for poaching, but I think to put it on the same level as murder is a little far fetched.  If you were to take that stance how would you ever justify killing the animal yourself when you've now put it on the same level as a human.

RCW 77.15.410
Unlawful hunting of big game — Penalty.

(1) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree if the person:
     (a) Hunts for, takes, or possesses big game and the person does not have and possess all licenses, tags, or permits required under this title; or
     (b) Violates any department rule regarding seasons, bag or possession limits, closed areas including game reserves, closed times, or any other rule governing the hunting, taking, or possession of big game.

     (2) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of big game in the first degree if the person commits the act described in subsection (1) of this section and:
     (a) The person hunts for, takes, or possesses three or more big game animals within the same course of events; or
     (b) The act occurs within five years of the date of a prior conviction under this title involving unlawful hunting, killing, possessing, or taking big game.

     (3)(a) Unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction of an offense involving killing or possession of big game taken during a closed season, closed area, without the proper license, tag, or permit using an unlawful method, or in excess of the bag or possession limit, the department shall revoke all of the person's hunting licenses and tags and order a suspension of the person's hunting privileges for two years.

     (b) Unlawful hunting of big game in the first degree is a class C felony. Upon conviction, the department shall revoke all of the person's hunting licenses or tags and order the person's hunting privileges suspended for ten years.


I believe most unlawful hunting of an animal not classified as Big Game is a misdemeanor.  Escalated to gross misdemeanor under circumstances like possession of twice the bag limit, etc.

So yeah, most illegal hunting is a misdemeanor.  You have to offend multiple times or do something really heinous (kill 3+ big game animals within a 24 hour period) to get a Class C Felony.

[ctwiggs1]

Ace - let's get back to what's important.  How do you and I link up this year so I can have a tailgate that looks like yours in your avatar??? 

Nice haul!

[trophyhunt]

The poacher used his weapon in an illegal manner, therefore violating and terminating his "rights" of such possession. For the same reason a fellow convicted of murder doesn't get to own weapons, he blew his chance of being a responsible firearm bearing adult.

People that poach animals out of season are on the same page as convicted murders in my book. Lock the scum bags up an throw away the key. Or put a bear rug on them and tell them to walk the foothills in August.

  x2

x100

[npaull]

Gross.

The whole thing would bother me a lot less if they guy had harvested all usable meat/ hide from the elk. I actually do think there should be a different penalty for this kind of horrible, wanton waste of wildlife than poaching instances in which the whole animal is used. Not saying the latter is OK (should still be a crime) but this is really awful. It's a bit like the difference between murder in the heat of the moment and a premeditated hate-crime. Hope this dude can never hunt again.

[sticky]

When i was in high school (30 yrs ago), there was a local guy who was busted for poaching a number (4, I think) of different species, including a bald eagle. He had also taken many animals that were legally tagged. Many were mounted and displayed in his home. They threw the book at him. Every single animal was confiscated. Meat removed from freezers & rifles & shotguns seized. He received a suspended three year sentence, plus a $10,000 fine. Loss of hunting rights (which were eventually restored sometime after ten years) was the obvious last part of his punishment.

[pianoman9701]

Gross.

The whole thing would bother me a lot less if they guy had harvested all usable meat/ hide from the elk. I actually do think there should be a different penalty for this kind of horrible, wanton waste of wildlife than poaching instances in which the whole animal is used. Not saying the latter is OK (should still be a crime) but this is really awful. It's a bit like the difference between murder in the heat of the moment and a premeditated hate-crime. Hope this dude can never hunt again.

He'll probably be eligible to hunt after a two-year loss of license, maybe 10 but that's doubtful. He should lose it forever. When he does get it back, he should be required to take Hunter Education again.

[plugger]

Could have used a knife to kill that elk, Damm I hope that gets caught on some ones trail cam, That I would have to see.

[hardkorrhunter]

Unless a firearm was used in a crime against another human or a crime that truly put another humans life in danger ie, assault with a deadly weapon or rape those fire arm rights should remain untouched.

[Halo]

Unfortunately in many cases it really doesn't matter if they take a poachers hunting privileges away, in most cases they didn't have a license anyway let alone a tag, and they wont the next time they poach either. As far as taking the firearms rights its the same problem, they will still be carrying a weapon when they poach the next time and wont be in trouble for felon with a firearm because they wont be charged because they don't want them taking up jail space. They wont charge them with that even if they have a picture of them with the gun in the act of poaching, trespassing, waste of game, etc. and they admit it, trust me. They just go plead guilty, get a fine they will never pay, resulting in a warrant that will be ignored, maybe do a couple days and that's it. The only real consequences they face is if something is confiscated, rifle, vehicle, ATV, etc.