Helping Cancer Patients Keep Working, Oscar Boycott, Eliminating The Minimum Hunting Age

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Nearly half of working people stay at their jobs after being diagnosed with cancer according to a recent study by a UW oncologist. She lays out the difficult choices people have to make when they find out they have cancer. We also discuss a potential boycott of the Oscars this year, and learn about an effort to eliminate the minimum hunting age in Wisconsin.

Featured in this Show

  • Sportsmen's Group Says Eliminating Wisconsin's Minimum Hunting Age Would Increase Safety

    A national sportsmen’s group is supporting legislation that eliminates Wisconsin’s minimum hunting age of 10, saying the move could bring increased safety in the woods and recruit a new generation of hunters.

    Under current law, 10 and 11 year olds can get a hunting license and hunt when accompanied by a mentor. That mentor must be a licensed hunter and stay within arm’s reach of the youth. Additionally, only one firearm or bow is allowed between the two. Children under 10 are currently allowed to target shoot with adult supervision.

    In October, state Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc, introduced bill AB411 that leaves the hunting age at the discretion of parents or caretakers. It would also get rid of the one-firearm restriction.

    Rob Sexton, consultant for the Sportsmen’s Alliance, a hunting and wildlife conservation organization that formed in the 1970s, said 34 states already have a similar law on the books.

    “What we’ve found across the country, and Wisconsin is no different, is that when you allow parents to make the decision, that you actually do a little bit better on safety and you actually stand a better chance of recruiting the next generation of hunters,” Sexton said.

    Some hunters are raising questions. The Associated Press reported that Ray Anderson, a Madison-area hunting safety instructor, had serious doubts about the new bill, saying that if anything, the age should be raised.

    States first began eliminating hunting ages in 2005, said Sexton. Looking back at the decade’s worth of incident data, he says those states that left the decision to the parents actually provided safer hunting environments.

    “It’s that continual piece of evidence that has allowed us to pursue getting parents more freedom in making these decisions, and that result is a safeer hunting experience and more hunters in the field,” Sexton said.

    The bill was sent to the Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage in October and received a public hearing the following month.

  • Working With Cancer

    According to a new study, about 44 percent of working people diagnosed with metastatic cancer continue to work after their diagnoses.

    We talk to the UW-Madison oncologist who worked on the study about which factors are associated with employment changes among patients with metastatic cancer.

  • Oscars Face A Boycott In 2016

    Our guest says another year of Oscars shutting out minorities is par for the course and that it’s time for African Americans in the film industry to start attending awards ceremonies that want to honor their achievements.

  • Bill Aims To End Minimum Hunting Age In Wisconsin

    New state legislation would end the minimum age for hunting in Wisconsin. A guest says the change would open up mentorship opportunities that can train a new generation of hunters.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Rob Ferrett Producer
  • Karl Christenson Producer
  • Veronica Rueckert Producer
  • Rob Sexton Guest
  • Amye Tevaarwerk Guest
  • Yesha Callahan Guest

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