New Wisconsin law allows children of any age to hunt with guns

A new Wisconsin law allows children of any age to hunt with a gun as long as they are accompanied by an adult, USA Today reports. 

Gov. Scott Walker (R) signed the bill into law on Saturday, allowing children who are not yet old enough to receive a hunting license to take part in the state’s hunting season with a legal adult over the age of 18.  

Hunters must be 14 years of age or older and pass the state’s gun safety courses before being allowed to hunt on their own, but the new law would leave it to adults to decide when children take part in the sport. 

{mosads}

Both the adult and child are allowed to carry weapons under the new law, as long as the adult stays within arm’s reach of the young hunter. The new law replaces previous legislation that allowed only one firearm between the adult and child over the age of 10. 

The bill, which passed the state legislature on strong Republican support, was also backed by the National Rifle Association.