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JUDGE: AMISH MUST WEAR ORANGE
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 -- 1:18 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
A Clark County judge has ruled Wisconsin's "Blaze Orange Law" is constitutional.
Last November, three Amish men from the Loyal area were cited for hunting without blaze orange clothing, but they went to court hoping to be exempt from the requirement when hunting on their own property.
Wearing bright colors is against the Amish faith.
In a six-page ruling issued Tuesday, Judge Jon Counsell acknowledges a "sincerely held religious belief" on the part of the three defendants. But, he says they failed to show their faith was "burdened" by the law, which requires gun hunters wear blaze orange clothing.
At a hearing in April, Jacob Gingerich, the father of the three defendants, admitted deer hunting was not a requirement of the Amish faith, but asked to be allowed to hunt without blaze orange on their own land.
Counsell noted hunting is a "voluntary act".
He also referred to evidence presented at the hearing showing 85-percent of gun-deer hunting accidents occur on private lands at considerable cost to society.
The three were ordered to pay the $143.10 forfeiture.
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