Internet hunting
Encyclopedia
Internet hunting is the practice of hunting
via remotely controlled firearms that can be aimed and shot using online webcams. The first internet hunting website, Live-Shot.com, was created in 2005 by John Lockwood, who saw it as a way to provide an authentic hunting experience for disabled persons. According to the Humane Society
, the operation consisted of "a fenced pen stocked with animals [where Lockwood] set up a tripod with a camera and a firearm".
Almost as soon as internet hunting was introduced in the U.S. state of Texas
, strong opposition to the practice developed among pro-gun and pro-hunting organizations, including the National Rifle Association
and Safari Club International
, as well as among animal rights and environmental groups. The majority of hunters do not consider the practice to be hunting, as it does not conform to the rules of a "fair chase".
As of August 2008, forty U.S. states had enacted laws or regulations to ban internet hunting. These bans were supported by a Humane Society
campaign, and according to the organization, internet hunting is no longer being practiced. Critics say Internet hunting never existed as a viable industry, making much of the legislation curtailing it "a testament to public alarm over Internet threats and the gilded life of legislation that nobody opposes". Advocates see the legislation as a proactive measure that may yet curb the practice, which could easily spring up in states or other countries where it is not prohibited.
In the United States, Federal gun control laws (specifically the National Firearms Act of 1934) would consider any firearm capable of firing more than a single shot under the control of a computer to be a "machine gun" as it would be extremely easy to modify the controlling software so as to cause more than one shot per manipulation of the system's "trigger." Such an apparatus would require registration and taxation under the NFA of 1934, which would be nearly impossible unless the "machine gun" had been registered as such since changes to the legislation in 1986. This would apply not only to semiautomatic firearms controlled by a computer or remote user, but even to manually-operated firearms such as bolt-action or lever-action firearms, since the reloading mechanism would be mechanized and controlled by the computer or remote user.
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
via remotely controlled firearms that can be aimed and shot using online webcams. The first internet hunting website, Live-Shot.com, was created in 2005 by John Lockwood, who saw it as a way to provide an authentic hunting experience for disabled persons. According to the Humane Society
Humane Society
A humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons, although in many countries, it is now used mostly for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals...
, the operation consisted of "a fenced pen stocked with animals [where Lockwood] set up a tripod with a camera and a firearm".
Almost as soon as internet hunting was introduced in the U.S. state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, strong opposition to the practice developed among pro-gun and pro-hunting organizations, including the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
and Safari Club International
Safari Club International
Safari Club International is an international organization composed of hunters. SCI has more than 50,000 members and 180 local chapters. SCI's website displays the bannertext "Safari Club International is the Leader in Protecting the Freedom to Hunt and Promoting Wildlife Conservation...
, as well as among animal rights and environmental groups. The majority of hunters do not consider the practice to be hunting, as it does not conform to the rules of a "fair chase".
As of August 2008, forty U.S. states had enacted laws or regulations to ban internet hunting. These bans were supported by a Humane Society
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
campaign, and according to the organization, internet hunting is no longer being practiced. Critics say Internet hunting never existed as a viable industry, making much of the legislation curtailing it "a testament to public alarm over Internet threats and the gilded life of legislation that nobody opposes". Advocates see the legislation as a proactive measure that may yet curb the practice, which could easily spring up in states or other countries where it is not prohibited.
In the United States, Federal gun control laws (specifically the National Firearms Act of 1934) would consider any firearm capable of firing more than a single shot under the control of a computer to be a "machine gun" as it would be extremely easy to modify the controlling software so as to cause more than one shot per manipulation of the system's "trigger." Such an apparatus would require registration and taxation under the NFA of 1934, which would be nearly impossible unless the "machine gun" had been registered as such since changes to the legislation in 1986. This would apply not only to semiautomatic firearms controlled by a computer or remote user, but even to manually-operated firearms such as bolt-action or lever-action firearms, since the reloading mechanism would be mechanized and controlled by the computer or remote user.