Thousands of people across the state enjoy hunting.
But the woods can be dangerous.
That's why first time hunters and young teens in Virginia are required to take a hunting safety class.
Hunter education courses are designed to teach safety.
Right now state law requires that there must be six full-time coordinators for the hunter education program.
But a new bill (538) in the General Assembly could eliminate all six of those positions within the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Currently, the program is ran by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or DGIF.
The President of the Virginia Hunter Education Association Vernie Kennedy says they want to maintain the quality of the program. "Most public safety issues do stay under law enforcement. With some of the things we see in this bill, it now says it will be administered by the agency," explained Kennedy.
Seven-hundred and eighty-five people signed a petition opposing the bill.
Tuesday, Vernie Kennedy will present that petition to the Board of Directors in Richmond. Kennedy explains, “We request that law enforcement still be in charge of it. We hope coordinators will be law enforcement because it is a public safety issue.
Instructors worry that eliminating six full-time positions, within the DGIF, will take away the professionalism of the course.
