‘Blaze pink’ hunting bill persists despite pushback
Legislation making blaze pink acceptable hunting wear survived an attempt Thursday to strip it from a larger game-and-fish regulations bill in the Minnesota House.
The House Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted 14-7 to keep the proposal intact with the panel's Republicans and two Democrats on the prevailing side. It would put pink on par with blaze orange as state-sanctioned hunting attire.
Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, recited feedback from her constituents before trying to block the measure.
"A young man that I asked looked with a rather puzzled look saying, 'Isn't that sexist?'," Hausman said. "And then the last two were women. One responded, 'Oh for gosh sakes.' The final one, 'What the? Crazy, that's in a bill?'"
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Supporters said they're providing more choice.
"Nobody is forcing anyone to wear blaze pink," said Rep. Dan Fabian, R-Roseau.
Committee chairman Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, said pink is popular.
"I guess the other perspective would be that my granddaughter Alaina thinks it's really cool that she gets to wear camo that's pink," McNamara said. "I truthfully believe she is more excited about going hunting because she gets to wear that."
A Department of Natural Resources conservation officer said the agency is neutral on the proposal. Wisconsin adopted a blaze pink law earlier this year and a handful of other states are considering their own versions.