The South Dakota House Transportation Committee passed a bill that allows drivers involved in a car accident to put a deer out of its misery if the animal is suffering. State Representative Peggy Gibson supports the bill. She says leaving deer to suffer after an accident is wrong.
"No deer injured in a motor vehicle accident should be left to suffer because of some ridiculous, short sided, prejudice of our game fish and parks department in South Dakota that the public will somehow misuse this statute,” says Gibson.
Gibson says a person must report the euthanization of a deer within 24 hours. Opponents say this creates too many loopholes and over time, the law could be abused. The bill passed through the committee nine votes to four. It travels next to the house floor.