Opponents want hunting bill shot down

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Hunting on private land on Sundays is close to becoming a law in Virginia.

The bill cleared the Virginia Senate Thursday in a 29 to 11 vote.

Senator Ralph Northam, of Norfolk, is one of the bill's sponsors. Northam believes the state doesn't have the right to tell people what they can do on their own private land.

But, the bill is getting mixed reviews.

Wilson Barnes, a retired principal, hunts during the week."I do understand people wanting to hunt on the weekends. However, I do attend church and I feel I need to be in church on Sunday," Wilson said.

Hunter Nathan Criddle told WAVY.com, "Most people work five days a week. The weekend's pretty important and only being able to hunt one day of the weekend that would mean instead one day a weekend, possibly two."

The bill applies only to people who hunt on their own land or on private property with the owner's written consent.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for a vote.