Averting my eyes at the necessary moment*

A friend called me this a.m. and told me a story that i thought was a joke. But darned if it was not a joke. It was about a bill that had been introduced into the Wisconsin Legislature. I guess when your state's government has fallen to the hands it has, well, you really should not assume something is a joke, no matter how Onioneqsue it may be.

     2015 Wisconsin Senate Bill 338 has been introduced to amend Wis. Stats. 29.083 which makes it a crime to  Interfere with hunting, fishing or trapping.      SB 338 states in part: 

(from that portion of the bill entitled, Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau)

"The bill also expands the types of conduct prohibited to include  ...maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person, approaching or confronting the person, or photographing the person."

(person means hunter/fisher).

Granted, its passage with that wording while comical, is unlikely, due to the language being unconstitutionally overbroad;

"Overbreadth is closely related to vagueness; if a prohibition is expressed in a way that is too unclear for a person to reasonably know whether or not their conduct falls within the law, then to avoid the risk of legal consequences they often stay far away from anything that could possibly fit the uncertain wording of the law. The law's effects are thereby far broader than intended or than the U.S. Constitution permits, and hence the law is overbroad." Wikipedia

But i digress.

The first thing i thought of when i read the language was actually, traveling in the more conservative areas of the Mideast. 

"maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person, approaching or confronting the person, or photographing the person"?! WTF?

  Does that mean i cannot look at a hunter, or if one comes with in my field of view, i need to avert my eyes, look away or leave the area? 

 Is this some kind of cultural sensitivity thing? Kind of like the not looking at women in the Mideast. True, people who kill for recreation are such sensitive souls. But geez. Blaze orange = Burka?

So if this passes i guess to be on the safe side, we should treat hunters, trappers and fishing people at least like etiquette in some Muslim countries dictates we treat Muslim women in public, right?

 So here are a few basic things to remember, that i learned as a sprout, if 2015 SB 338 passes. People from other states or countries traveling to Wisconsin should be warned about this. For example:

Caution Traveler

You are entering the State of Wisconsin during a season when people are allowed to kill animals for recreation. You should treat these people in public, in a manner similar to how you would interact with women in public, if you are a unrelated man, in conservative Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan. 

We recommend receiving special training since recognizing recreational killers in Wisconsin can be difficult, and their activity, and a state of serenity for them is guaranteed by law.

If you are in Wisconsin in the Autumn or Winter, it is somewhat easier at least as to those killing land animals, since they my law must wear specially colored garments, often referred to as "blaze orange". So here is some general advice for autumn travel in Wisconsin, to avoid prosecution under state law.

1. They like to be referred to as "hunters".

2. If you see one look away.

3. Do not talk to one. If it is an emergency, or your job requires you to talk to one, avoid eye contact, and speak to them by directing your statements to the nearest other person near them not wearing orange.

4. Unlike women in the Muslim countries mentioned, they customarily drive and many consume alcohol. The latter is done preparatory and following the "hunt" that is protected by law. So, if you see a vehicle with people in it in blaze orange, do not stare, but pay careful attention to your driving behavior. Always give them right of way, so your normal driving behavior is not mistaken as improper and therefore, harassment punishable by law.

5. It is perfectly legal for a "hunter" to initiate conversation, stare at you, and within normal social boundaries, "confront you". If this occurs, avert your eyes, look down, and lower your voice, and follow #3 above.

One question often asked, is if a "hunter" enters a room, is the best thing just to leave because of the law. I would suggest that you do what you feel is necessary for you own ability to comply with the law at that point. But if you do suddenly decide to leave, you do not want to have others think that by your leaving you are harassing the recreational killer by implying you do not approve of their activities. So as you leave, we suggest you voice in English, "I hope the hunt is going well."

*Averting my eyes at the necessary moment (the title comes from a line in this film.