Bill would recognize skills of active-duty military members when applying for hunting licenses

January 12, 2009

OLYMPIA…Sen. Mike Hewitt has introduced legislation that would make it more convenient for members of the U.S. military on active duty to obtain a hunting license in Washington. Under Senate Bill 5008, any active duty member of the U.S. armed forces, or any member of the National Guard or the reserves who has been called to active duty, may purchase a hunting license in Washington without the additional burden of completing a hunter safety course.

“It may seem obvious, but Washington state law does not recognize that active-duty members of our military are already very up to speed on the things one would learn in a hunter safety course,” said Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. “If anyone is skilled at things like the handling of firearms, it’s members of our military. It doesn’t make sense to force them to sit through a course to learn something they already know. We should waive this requirement for active-duty members and allow them to spend what little time off they do have hunting, if they choose to do so, rather than making them jump through this repetitive hoop.  This is a small change, but one that can make a difference to members of our military.”  

For more information contact Rebecca Japhet
at (360) 786-7516 or japhet.rebecca@leg.wa.gov.