Piper Reese (OSU)
Committee members of the Senate brought ORU-013, or “Friend or Fowl Act of 2020” to the floor.
ORU-013 describes allowing self-defense with the use of force against geese attacks. In the author’s summation, Sen. Caelyn Hunter (ORU) said the reason for this bill is so that college students can defend themselves from geese attacks.
Sen. Hunter was asked about whether the inspiration came from college or from childhood trauma. Sen. Hunter’s response was “yes.”
Some senators were very apprehensive about the bill at first.
“I’m not for one on animal abuse,” Sen. Jonathan Cooper (OSU) said.
Other senators were in favor of the bill.
“Are you in the opinion that your bill, as written, is far too lenient?” Sen. Nathan von Atzigen (ORU) asked.
Some senators don’t even believe that birds even exist.
“Is it not the most patriotic thing we can do today to protect the rights of Oklahomans to defend themselves against their own government?” Senator Floor Leader Canyon McGee (OBU), asked the author.
As a college student who has to face the wrath of all fowl, this bill will ensure my right to defend myself on my college campus without being punished. It will make my actions, such as slapping, punching, and kicking, valid when defending myself from the fierce fowls.
With those who are concerned about animal abuse, the bill does state that if a student is found guilty of using excessive force against a goose or attacking the fowl, not in the case of defense, they’ll be charged a $250 fine to be paid to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.
ORU-013 was adopted by the Senate by acclamation and will go onto the House of Representatives later this week to be heard.