Why?

From the AP:

The Michigan House has voted to ban hunting on the Internet, something a Texas company says it’s exploring. The House voted 95-8 to prevent anyone from setting up a hunting Web site in Michigan.

The practice involves shooting real animals controlling a firearm via the Internet.

State Representative Glenn Steil introduced the bill [HB 4465], which now goes to the Michigan Senate. The Kent County Republican says Michigan lawmakers can’t control what people do in other states but says he doesn’t want that type of business based in Michigan.

Internet shooting already exists in Texas, and the site offering it says it’s looking into adding Internet hunting.

The Michigan Senate had passed the thing, 57-0. (Text, of the Senate bill (SB 373) and the House Bill (HB 4465).)

The measure passed because (paraphrase) “we don’t want none of that ’round these parts,” which is fine. A State senator harrumphed that the measure “will help to protect the integrity of our sport from such a senseless activity.” That’s fine for Michigan, which reelects Carl Levin every six years.

I could understand such a ban from a public safety standpoint, but that does not seem to have been the argument in favor of the thing. As is stands, it sounds a lot like burning witches.

That being said, and Levin aside, I admire the way the State of Michigan gets the text of these measures on the internet.