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Dear Editor,

As a North Carolina resident, I feel strongly that Sunday hunting won’t benefit our state’s economy, and it certainly won’t benefit the animals who call North Carolina home.

The vast majority of the population — 95% according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — does not hunt, and the agency predicts that the number of hunters will only continue to decline. Shouldn’t we allow the majority of people who prefer nonlethal forms of recreation a day to enjoy hiking, biking, birdwatching, and wildlife photography without worrying about bullets and arrows? They’ve made clear during Wildlife Resources Commission meetings that they’re willing to pay usage fees for public lands, meaning that the animals are worth much more revenue to the state alive than dead.

And nature does just fine managing itself without human interference. Just look at how many species have been able to rebound during the “anthropause” caused by COVID-19. While humans continue to sprawl, develop, and take over animals’ habitats and food sources, the least we can do is not gun them down for entertainment.

Sincerely,

Chrissy Matthies

Clayton

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