A group of vegan activists in Oregon has collected enough signatures to potentially put a ballot measure before voters in November 2026 that would criminalize farming, fishing, and hunting statewide — turning nearly one million Oregonians into criminals overnight. Initiative Petition 28, charmingly named the PEACE Act (People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions), would strip every legal exemption that currently protects these activities from Oregon's animal abuse statutes.

So let me get this straight. Humans have been growing food, catching fish, and hunting game since literally the dawn of civilization, and these geniuses want to outlaw all three at once? Next up: Oregon bans breathing because the plants need the CO2.

The chief petitioner is a vegan animal rights activist named David Michelson, who explained to the Spectator that "IP28 prohibits any activity — other than self-defense and veterinary practices — that intentionally injures, kills, or sexually violates an animal." His campaign says the goal is to "be protective of the needs of the animals and to codify their right to life and bodily autonomy in law." Bodily autonomy. For chickens. In a state where you can't pump your own gas but apparently the real crisis is that cows don't have civil rights.

As of May 29, the campaign has collected 126,115 signatures — surpassing the 117,173 required — with a deadline of July 2 to submit them. If certified, this disaster lands on the November 2026 ballot.

The Oregon Hunters Association put it bluntly: "Initiative Petition 28… would remove legal exemptions protecting hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming from Oregon's animal abuse statutes — turning nearly one million Oregonians into criminals." We're not talking about some fringe hobby here. Hunting and fishing alone generate $1.9 billion annually for Oregon's economy. There are 37,000 farms and ranches in the state. Nine Oregon tribes hold treaty-protected hunting and fishing rights that go back generations.

But sure, let's torch all of that because David Michelson had a spiritual awakening at a vegan potluck.

Here's where it gets even better. Michelson openly admits this is just the beginning. "Once successful in Oregon, we hope to bring similar initiatives to every state until the killing of animals is against the law nationwide," he told the Spectator. So the quiet part is now the loud part — they don't just want Oregon, they want your state next.

And don't be fooled by the fine print. The measure would still allow the sale of meat, leather, and fur. You just couldn't produce any of it in Oregon. So ranchers get criminalized, but grocery stores can keep importing steaks from Nebraska. That's not animal welfare — that's economic suicide dressed up in a hemp tote bag.

Michelson also suggested that farms could be converted into "sanctuaries" where animals "live out their natural lives." Picture it: Old MacDonald's farm, but instead of producing food for families, every cow just vibes until it dies of old age. Taxpayers foot the bill, presumably.

Even Democrat Governor Tina Kotek — who is no one's idea of a conservative — came out against it. "I don't support IP 28 because I believe criminalizing standard agricultural practices and lawful activities like hunting and fishing would be the wrong direction for Oregon," Kotek said. When a Democrat governor in Oregon thinks your animal rights initiative is too crazy, you've achieved something truly special.

The Oregon Cattlemen's Association and Oregon Farm Bureau have also lined up in opposition. This thing has managed to unite ranchers, tribal nations, hunters, fishermen, and even progressive politicians against it. Congratulations to the PEACE Act for accomplishing bipartisan unity — just not the kind they wanted.

Michelson's campaign started back in 2020, and they've openly acknowledged the measure probably won't pass this cycle. They see it as an "attitude-shifting" exercise. Translation: we know this is insane, but we want to drag the Overton window so far left that banning hamburgers sounds reasonable by 2030.

Oregon — a state literally built on farming, fishing, and the Oregon Trail — might have to vote on whether food production should be a felony. If that doesn't tell you everything about where the activist left wants to take this country, nothing will.