July 11th, 2006
Bagging game on the Internet
I’d heard of online gambling and Internet dating, but this one was new to me: Internet hunting. I read about it in a report that Rhode Island had just banned it. Here’s the description from the Government Technology article:
Hunting via the Internet involves signing up on the web site and paying a deposit and fees of more than $1,500 to schedule a session. The hunter then logs on again at an appointed time and watches a feeding station on his computer screen. The animal ordered is present in the area, and when it approaches the food, the hunter uses his mouse to line the animal up in the on-screen crosshairs. A click of the mouse fires the rifle.
Apparently 22 other states have banned it as well and a bill is pending before Congress (HR1558) that would ban it nationwide. Just as well, if you ask me.
Phil Windley is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Brigham Young University. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
