A bill that expands the legal definition for when it’s OK to shoot a Mountain Lion is halfway through the State Legislature.
The State Senate gave approval to a measure that makes it OK to shoot a lion if a person feels a reasonable threat from an animal.
Proponents argue the current law is too narrow and only allows someone shoot a big cat if the animals is threatening them or their livestock.
Opponents to the legislation include Democratic Senator Larry Lucas. He says current law is adequate. Lucas says the broad language in the bill may give people an excuse to kill lions at will.
“And if we enter into kind of a judgment call where you can just start shooting mountain lions at will, then that to me would kind of conflict with the hunting season and the hunting regulations the Game Fish and Parks has set up which could have an economic impact on South Dakota,” says Lucas.
The bill went on to pass the State Senate by a vote of 21 to 13. It goes next to the House.