An animal-killing contest is just what it sounds like: a tournament in which people rush out and massacre as many innocent wild animals as possible, competing for cash or a prize to show off their grotesque “victory.” This type of sadistic contest turns mass-murder into a game. And it’s completely legal in most U.S. states. For example, one event held in January 2020 in Maryland resulted in contestants butchering almost 250 foxes, coyotes, and raccoons.
Luckily, five U.S. states have recently banned these competitions, saving thousands of animals from wanton slaughter. In New Nexico, the State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard condemned these events as an exercise in animal cruelty, and she’s right. Wildlife all over the country are at risk of sudden, terrifying executions when they should be just living their lives. That’s why it’s time for us to demand national legislation to protect these animals. Sign the petition and demand that U.S. government ban all animal-killing contests on federal lands.