‘It’s totally ridiculous’: Jake and Spike baffled by Oregon initiative that would outlaw hunting, fishing, and farming

An initiative in Oregon would give all animals the same protections as pets, effectively outlawing hunting, fishing, and modern farming. Petition organizer David Michelson, a substitute teacher, said the goal is to have a system where people aren’t killing or harming animals anymore, according to The New York Times. Michelson characterized modern farming as sexual assault on animals.

KIRO hosts Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill called Initiative Petition 28 outlandish on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, warning it would devastate entire industries. Spike said that while Michelson’s goal of raising awareness is valiant, the initiative goes way too far.

“[Michelson is saying] ‘I have no delusions that this will pass. I just want to raise awareness of the issues of animal cruelty.’ Which I think is a noble and worthwhile effort. But you do yourself more harm than good when you say all hunting is cruelty, all fishing is criminal, and farming is sexual,” he said. “I mean, when you go so far to prove your point, your point becomes ridiculous.”

“It’s totally ridiculous,” Jake agreed.

KIRO producer Laura Scott was fishing recently and said her salmon fishing guide was very upset about the initiative because it would destroy his industry.

“He lives just above the river, and he pointed out he lives in a rural place. He’s off the beaten path. You’ve got to be able to kill a raccoon,” she said.

‘People don’t understand how far-reaching it is’: Oregon initiative goes beyond animal testing

Laura said she believes many people signing the petition don’t fully understand what they’re agreeing to.

“They’re getting people to sign this initiative by saying, ‘Oh, it’s against animal testing,’ or mischaracterizing how sweeping this is,” she explained. “You’re going to people in Portland and Eugene who have the bleeding hearts, and you’re saying, ‘Oh, we don’t want to test on animals, can you sign this? Oh, we want to make more farms organic for cows. Can you?’ And people don’t understand how far-reaching it really is.”

Michelson and other supporters have gathered more than 135,000 signatures, exceeding the 117,173 required by July 2 to make the ballot, according to The New York Times.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3