Hunter Harassment - It's Not A Matter Of Free Speech
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Hunter Harassment - It's Not A Matter Of Free Speech





Thanks to Indiana’s hunter harassment law, two anti-hunters could now do jail time for harassing and intimidating bowhunters.

On July 21, a jury found Frederick and Rosanne Shuger of Beverly Shores guilty of two counts of hunter harassment. Frederick was also convicted of intimidation. The couple claimed that Indiana’s hunter harassment law, which is based on a draft model written by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, violated their rights to free speech. The prosecutor successfully argued that the First Amendment does not give them the right to threaten sportsmen and disrupt legal hunting activities.

The Shugers were accused of harassing bowhunters by driving through the community honking their horn and allowing their dog to bark in an admitted effort to disturb the deer. Frederick was accused of further confronting and threatening hunters Jeff Valovich and Jim Meyers.

Valovich told the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance that Frederick had, on at least three earlier occasions, interfered with hunters without formal charges being brought.

The couple faces up to 60 days in jail for each misdemeanor harassment charge and Frederick could be behind bars for up to a year for the intimidation charge. Sentencing will be July 25.

Hunter harassment laws have been enacted in all 50 states and upheld in several court rulings. The jury’s verdict is in line with a 2002 decision by the Connecticut Supreme Court that ruled 5-0 that its hunter harassment law does not infringe upon the right to free speech and assembly.

**UPDATE**

According to the Munster Times, Frederick Shuger was sentenced by Porter Superior Judge Julia Jent to 15 days of community service, and one year and four months of unsupervised probation. Rosanne was sentenced to five days of community service and four months on probation.
US Sportmens Alliance on Target

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