Post by cambygsp on Nov 6, 2005 5:58:58 GMT -5
www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=68169
7,000 felons got hunting licenses
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah law prohibits convicted felons from handling firearms, but it does not keep them from getting a hunting permit.
Salt Lake television station KUTV said it compared the names of Utah's 170,000 criminal records with those of the 159,000 people who got a Utah hunting license this year, and, after double-checking addresses and birth dates, concluded
that 7,000 felons got hunting licenses.
Reporter Bill Gephardt said Thursday that the station found convicted murderers, child rapists and armed robbers had been granted coveted tags, like limited entry deer and elk licenses.
Jim Karpowitz, director of the state Division of Wildlife Resources, found the results surprising.
"It's legal for them to purchase a license," Karpowitz said. "It's not legal for them to use a firearm. And if it was their intent to go out with a firearm, then they needed to be reminded that it's not OK to do that."
DWR and the Department of Corrections have now established a system to track down felons on probation and parole or in prison who have hunting licenses.
"We've made a home visit, we've looked at their licenses," said Jack Ford, Corrections spokesman.
However, KUTV said the state is only responsible for keeping track of the 20,000 ex-cons who are still in the Corrections system, and not the 150,000 other felons who have served their time and no longer are in the system, but still cannot legally touch a gun.
"These people are off paper, we are not supervising them," said Ford.
The Department of Natural Resources plans to change hunting applications to stress that convicted felons cannot use a gun or any weapon to hunt.
7,000 felons got hunting licenses
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah law prohibits convicted felons from handling firearms, but it does not keep them from getting a hunting permit.
Salt Lake television station KUTV said it compared the names of Utah's 170,000 criminal records with those of the 159,000 people who got a Utah hunting license this year, and, after double-checking addresses and birth dates, concluded
that 7,000 felons got hunting licenses.
Reporter Bill Gephardt said Thursday that the station found convicted murderers, child rapists and armed robbers had been granted coveted tags, like limited entry deer and elk licenses.
Jim Karpowitz, director of the state Division of Wildlife Resources, found the results surprising.
"It's legal for them to purchase a license," Karpowitz said. "It's not legal for them to use a firearm. And if it was their intent to go out with a firearm, then they needed to be reminded that it's not OK to do that."
DWR and the Department of Corrections have now established a system to track down felons on probation and parole or in prison who have hunting licenses.
"We've made a home visit, we've looked at their licenses," said Jack Ford, Corrections spokesman.
However, KUTV said the state is only responsible for keeping track of the 20,000 ex-cons who are still in the Corrections system, and not the 150,000 other felons who have served their time and no longer are in the system, but still cannot legally touch a gun.
"These people are off paper, we are not supervising them," said Ford.
The Department of Natural Resources plans to change hunting applications to stress that convicted felons cannot use a gun or any weapon to hunt.
