There has been a lot of talk about IP 28. We wanted to make sure that every sportsman is aware of just how radical this proposal truly is. That is why the Sportsmen’s Alliance is officially standing in strong opposition to Oregon Initiative Petition 28 (IP 28), also known as the “PEACE Act”. This radical measure is a direct assault on our heritage and the most extreme threat to hunting, fishing, and trapping, farming, pet ownership, and more that has ever been tried in Oregon’s history.
This is not just a niche issue for hunters, anglers, and trappers; it is a direct attack on the cultural and economic foundation of Oregon.
Whether someone is a lifelong angler, a local rancher, or simply someone who enjoys locally sourced food, IP 28 threatens their interests. We need to educate those in our immediate circles, so we can build a unified front to protect our heritage from outside interests that do not understand our way of life.
Why We Oppose IP 28
IP 28 seeks to remove long-standing legal exemptions from Oregon’s animal abuse statutes. If passed, it would:
- Criminalize Our Way of Life: Lawful hunting, fishing, and trapping would be reclassified as criminal animal abuse, turning nearly one million law-abiding Oregonians into criminals overnight.
- Defund Conservation: Sportsmen and women provide approximately 45-55% of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) funding through license fees and federal excise taxes. IP 28 would effectively bankrupt the state’s ability to manage wildlife and restore habitats.
- Ban Science-Based Management: Critical activities such as wildlife research, lethal predator control, and the management of nuisance species (such as rats or gophers) would become illegal.
- Devastate Rural Communities: Beyond hunting, this measure would criminalize standard agricultural practices, ranching, and even the processing of livestock for food, threatening Oregon’s entire food supply chain.
- Ignore Tribal Rights: The measure contains no exemptions for Oregon’s federally recognized Tribes, jeopardizing treaty-protected hunting and fishing rights.
Current Status of the Petition
As of February 2026, proponents have collected over 100,000 of the 117,173 valid signatures required by the July 2 deadline to qualify for the November 2026 ballot. With significant funding from out-of-state interests like PETA, the threat is more real than ever.
What You Can Do to Help
- Do Not Sign: Do not be misled by the “animal cruelty” framing; the true intent is a total ban on the harvest of animals.
- Verify Your Voter Registration: Ensure you are ready to vote this measure down if it reaches the ballot by checking the Oregon Secretary of State’s website.
- Spread the Word: Educate your friends and family about the catastrophic impact IP 28 would have on Oregon’s economy and environment.
It is essential that we share this message with our families, friends, and even casual acquaintances.
Now is the time for us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder. The opposition is well-funded and organized, but they do not have the deep-rooted connection to this land that we do.
By working together, sharing information, showing up at the polls, and speaking with one voice, we can defeat this radical overreach. Our heritage was built on the stewardship of generations past, and by standing united today, we ensure that hunting, fishing, and our rural way of life remain a reality for generations to come. We are stronger together, and together, we will defeat IP 28.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square, and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to the Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
