Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 7 of 9 · from the scan, no model involved
Dennis added that major sporting groups including the Virginia Wildlife Federation, the Wild Turkey Federation and the Izaak Walton League also supported mandatory hunter education for anyone getting a license for the first time. “But the Game Commission was opposed. They thought they’d get too much opposition from hunters," he said.
Instead of pursuing mandatory hunter education, “Operation Respect” threw its weight behind legislation that would expand powers of game wardens to ticket hunters for destruction of private property. This expanded authority, if approved by the General Assembly, will apply only to land owned by timber companies and covered by special agreement with the state.
In addition, “Operation Respect” supporters are pushing for legislation to tighten trespass laws. Dennis pointed to midwest states which recognize two degrees of trespassing as examples: a fine of $100 is automatically levied on anyone going onto posted land without permission and if willful trespass can be proved, the violator faces criminal charges as well. But Dennis noted that states with this type of regulation teach how to research title on land so that outdoor users may contact the absentee landowner for permission to use the property. “Operation Respect” also has long range plans to hold workshops for Virginia judges “to demonstrate what the whole law enforcement structure from game wardens to judges does or does not do,” Dennis continued. "Our efforts are aimed at teaching outdoor users to behave better but some of the things they learn in the courts teach them that they can behave any way they want to,” he maintained with more than a hint of disgruntlement at the wrist slaps many judges mete out for game violations.
91.9%