Extreme Government Control

Editors note:The figures used in last week’s editorial came from the many callers and writers supporting Sunday Hunting who complained about my previous editorial. If they are incorrect, I’m sorry.

A letter to the Editor this week states, “You can’t get any more local that letting property owners decide.” I couldn’t agree more. However, I also believe that asking the State to restore a crumb of a right you should already have is wrong.

I believe I should have total control of my property unless it damages someone else’s property or endangers someone beyond my property line. I believe the wildlife on my property should be mine to manage. If I abuse my property or the wildlife, the wildlife will avoid my property.

Currently I have to get “permission” to divide my property, to put an entrance to the highway, to clear a lot, to build a home, to build a pond and hundreds of other uses.

I don’t believe I should have to beg, lobby, petition, entreat, beseech, or solicit my elected officials to maintain my property rights.

When we do, we have acknowledged they have the right to control us and that they have control of our property. When our legislature, a Board of Supervisors or a town council grants a request they and we have set a precedent that they are in control of our property. I also believe IF we are going to be controlled, the agency closer to the people is the one to choose. I believe we should be fighting for all property rights not just attempt to have one returned.

Somehow America has reverted to Old English property rights. All property and all wild game belongs to the “king” and we can only kill it with permission.

Remember Robin Hood and King John? The king’s deer could eat your crops and you couldn’t do anything.

Today in Virginia if the “King’s deer” damage your property it is your responsibility to find a non-fatal way to deter them. If that fails you can petition the “king” and he will send a game warden who may give you permission to protect your property by killing them.

When it comes to bears it is worse. We have more legal rights to protect our property and ourselves from human predators than we do from bears. Again we have to get permission.

Southside Virginia is over populated with deer. If landowners still had full property rights some of them would shoot the deer. This would benefit everyone. Crop damage would decrease. Vehicle collision damage would decrease. The deer population would stabilize and deer would revert to being actual wild animals that avoid human contact.

I am not saying there should not be some control. Wildlife belongs to all of us. There should be reasonable hunting seasons and regulations. Still the rights of property owners should not be taken away to benefit others.

It is a fact that most people take better care of their own property than they do of community property or other people’s property. Just ask the communists. Just look at the trash on the roads. Many if not most people who litter our roads keep their personal cars clean.

My position on Sunday hunting is that the fight should be about all of our stolen rights, not just one small issue that affects a few people.

Besides, what is granted today can be taken away tomorrow. As I wrote last week, the state gives and the state takes away.