Arkansas State Representative Steve Unger has introduced a bold new bill that marries public safety with outdoor recreation. The proposal? Give truckers who help bust human trafficking operations a lifetime hunting and fishing license — because nothing says “thank you for saving lives” quite like a permanent pass to bag a buck.
Truckers, who spend long hours crisscrossing the state’s highways, are uniquely positioned to spot suspicious activity at truck stops and rest areas. Unger’s plan turns these road warriors into potential heroes with a hefty incentive: access to Arkansas’ great outdoors for life. It’s a move that not only highlights the state’s love of hunting but also its determination to combat a deeply troubling crime.
Turning CB Radios Into a Crime-Fighting Hotline
The proposal builds on existing initiatives like “Truckers Against Trafficking,” a national program that trains drivers to recognize signs of trafficking. Unger’s bill takes it one step further, putting boots — and maybe camo — on the ground by rewarding those whose tips lead to actual arrests or rescues.
The Hunt for Justice
If passed, the legislation would grant successful truckers a lifetime license from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. That means no more annual fees to hunt, fish, or enjoy some of the state’s most beloved pastimes. For Arkansas’s outdoors-loving truckers, it’s a deal that is hard to beat, especially on top of the satisfaction of saving lives.
The process would be tightly managed, with only verified tips that result in significant outcomes qualifying for the reward. In other words, no phony sightings of traffickers will score free deer tags.
What Exactly Is a Lifetime Hunting License?
Some states have chosen to offer a lifetime license for hunting and/or angling to residents. What those Lifetime Licenses include varies greatly from state to state. For Arkansas, it’s a pretty all-inclusive pass to enjoy just about everything the state has to offer hunters and anglers. The standard fee is $1,000 and it includes:
“… purchasers of any age to the privileges of the Resident Sportsman’s License (hunting) and the Resident Fisheries Conservation License (fishing). Fees for trout permits, leased lands permits, alligator permits, elk permits, state waterfowl stamps and wildlife management area permit hunts are waived with this license. License holders must apply, however, for WMA hunts, be successfully drawn and return notification of acceptance before being issued a permit. HIP registration is required to hunt migratory game birds. To hunt waterfowl, federal waterfowl stamps are required in addition to HIP. This license is available from the AGFC Little Rock Office.”
Are There Hurdles?
The bill still has to survive the legislative jungle, where critics are likely to question the cost and administrative logistics. It seems this one may be a relatively easy sell, though. If there’s one thing that seems to unite the greater good, it’s the desire to stop human trafficking.
One thing’s for sure: Unger’s goal is to put on a little more of a “hunt” against human traffickers. Talk about giving truckers a new kind of trophy to aim for.
