Hunting Bill 2026: why it is the wrong law for animals and nature

Hunting is not a harmless tradition: it is an activity that turns wild animals into targets and nature into an armed training ground. The new Hunting Bill, approved by the Senate on June 23, 2026, and now under consideration by the Chamber of Deputies as A.C. 2984, makes this discussion even more urgent.

2026 Hunting Bill: why it is called the "Shooter Bill"

The text amends Law 157 of 1992. The official Senate report mentions greater flexibility in hunting calendars, expansion of regional competencies, use of night vision devices, live decoys, and a reduction in ISPRA's role among the points contested during the debate. The measure also adds species that can be hunted and modifies sanctions.

Calling it a simple "modernization" of hunting hides the central question: why, when habitats and species are under pressure, should we make it easier to shoot?

Licia Colò, Michela Vittoria Brambilla, and Giulia Innocenzi: different voices for animals

The mobilization brought together associations, citizens, and public figures. Licia Colò declared that if the law were approved, she would support a referendum to abolish hunting. Michela Vittoria Brambilla announced a fight in the Chamber of Deputies. Giulia Innocenzi, a journalist and author with Pablo D’Ambrosi of the documentary Food for Profit, is instead one of the most recognizable Italian voices in exposing animal exploitation and the links between industry, lobbying, and politics. Her work helps to make visible the same culture that considers animals as available resources.

It's not a matter of celebrity: public voices and investigative journalism help to shed light on an issue concerning safety, biodiversity, and animal rights. ENPA, LAV, LIPU, Legambiente, and WWF have expressed strong criticisms and organized public initiatives.

Abolition of hunting: not hatred for hunters, but protection of life

Being against hunting does not mean wishing for a personal confrontation with those who practice it. It means judging the action: pursuing, injuring, and killing an animal for sport does not become ethical because it is legal or traditional. Many past customs have been overcome when society recognized the suffering they produced.

• Wildlife is not a target: every wild animal has a fundamental interest in living.
• Nature is not a firing range: paths, countryside, and woods must be safe for everyone.
• Biodiversity requires science: ecosystem management must be based on independent data.
• Tradition does not justify violence: an ancient practice can and must be questioned.

From the Hunting Bill to a new relationship with animals

The cultural problem is the same one we find in factory farming and animal testing: classifying some living beings as available resources. In sanctuaries, the opposite happens. Animals are not tools, products, or attractions, but individuals. Learn more about what an animal sanctuary is and the difference between a shelter, a dog pound, and a sanctuary.

How to concretely oppose hunting

Keeping informed about the parliamentary process, writing to elected representatives, supporting associations, participating in peaceful demonstrations, and sharing reliable sources are accessible actions. Public pressure works when it is constant, documented, and does not allow the issue to disappear after a newspaper headline.

Sources: Senate of the Republic, Chamber of Deputies, ENPA and LIPU.