Internet hunting facts for kids
Internet hunting is a way of hunting where people use computers to control a firearm from far away. They aim and shoot using live video from webcams. It's like playing a video game, but with real animals and a real gun.
What is Internet Hunting?
Internet hunting lets people hunt animals without being physically present. A person sits at a computer, often far away, and controls a gun set up in a special area. They see the animals through a camera attached to the gun. Then, they can aim and fire the gun using their computer.
The first website for internet hunting was called Live-Shot.com. It was started in 2005 by a person named John Lockwood. He thought it could be a way for people with disabilities to experience hunting. The setup usually involved a fenced area with animals, a camera, and a gun on a stand.
Why People Opposed It
When internet hunting first appeared in Texas, many groups quickly spoke out against it. These included groups that support hunting and gun rights, like the National Rifle Association and Safari Club International. Animal rights groups and environmental groups also opposed it.
Most hunters did not think internet hunting was real hunting. They felt it wasn't a "fair chase". Fair chase means that the hunter and the animal should have a reasonable chance. It means the animal should have a chance to escape, and the hunter should use skill and effort. Internet hunting was seen as unfair because the animals were often in a fenced area and couldn't escape easily.
Laws Against Internet Hunting
By August 2008, many U.S. states had passed laws to stop internet hunting. About 40 states made it illegal. Groups like the Humane Society worked hard to support these bans. According to them, internet hunting is no longer practiced in the U.S.
Some people argued that internet hunting was never a big business anyway. They felt that the laws were passed because people were worried about new internet threats. However, supporters of the laws believed they were important. They saw them as a way to prevent internet hunting from becoming popular in other states or countries where it wasn't banned yet.
